Another year, another Electronic Entertainment Expo. Since it's the big thing in games right now, it would be daft not to mention it, especially as this year featured the launch of two brand new consoles.
Yep, 8 years after Microsoft launced it's XBox 360, and 7 since the release of thePlaystation 3, the two console giants have announced that they will both be releasing new consoles this year. Yep, we're into Generation 8 of videogaming consoles, featuring the Wii U, the XBox One and the Playstation 4. So let's have a quick look.
Nintendo: The Wii U
 |
| Ninty may have lost favour with a few 'Hardcore' gamers, but that touchpad thingy is a cool idea. |
The Wii U was the first gen 8 console to launch, hitting stores last year. It's main feature being the large gamepad with a display and touchpad, much like a tablet device. It features online connectivity, and bacwards compatibility with all your old Wii games.
Since Nintendo already had a new console, they didn't realy have much to bring to E3, and the buzz is that their stint at the conference was a short and sweet affair. New Mario Kart, New Super Mario, New Donkey Kong, and an HD re-release of Legend of Zelda: Windwaker. Here's some games, see you later. Short and sweet.
Microsoft: The XBox One
 |
| People are already nicknaming this thing the Xbone. Hah, smutty gamers. |
The first of the new consoles at E3 was the XBox One, Microsoft's gen 8 offering. Expected to be out November 2013 sometime, it's the third foray into games consoles for Microsoft. It's an all singing, all dancing machine with voice control via it's Kinect device. It will have acess to streaming services and you'll be able to do a spot of multitasking with it, such as Skyping a friend while shooting aliens in the eye. You'll also be able to upload clips of cool stuff you get up to.
However, the XBox One has recieved a fair few raised eyebrows since it's launch. Many thought it was odd that the announcement for the console spoke mostly about it's connections with TV and sports than with the thing people would buy a games console for- games. Many thought they'd save the games until E3, and they were right. Microsoft announced a ton of games for their console, including a Metal Gear game, which until recently had been a Playstation exclusive franchise.
However, other concerns about Microsoft's new console were confirmed. It appeared to have some really strict controls on how people used the games for XBox One, and these were confirmed. Games essentially are locked to your account, and lending them or selling them was either difficult (lending is possible but carries with it a lot of stipulations) or impossible.
There were also concerns about the Kinect always being on, especially with the recent news in the USA that the government had been monitoring it's citizens in an almost Big Brothery way without them knowing. It was confirmed that the console would not work without a Kinect attached, but it would not be spying, just waiting for a voice command.
A final concern that was clarified were rumours that the XBox One needed to be connected to the internet at all times. The company stated that it did not need to be on all the time, but would check in with Microsoft once every 24 hours. Failure to do so would result in the console shutting down or something.
Naturally, console owners were a bit skeptical about the new gen 8 consoles, especially since Sony had been very cryptic about their new console.
Sony Entertainment: The Playstation 4
 |
| It looks like a Playstation alright. Or is it that thing from 2001? |
Sony were the first to announce a new console for 2013 back in February. After Microsoft's console with it's restrictions on used games and whatnot, everyone was keen to see what Sony had up it's sleeve, especially as this year they patented software that would also make used game discs unsellable. Everyone thought it a bit weird that they didn't actually show the console at it's announcement.
Many said that Sony 'won' E3 this year, and for one reason- they showed a ton of games, then said that the PS4 was 'business as usual' for Playstation customers. They had entered the 8th gen with a machine that had no lending or sale restrictions on its games, no online check ins, no peripherals that had to be connected or it wouldn't work. Then they announced it would be $100 cheaper than the XBox One. The only change to the way Playstation worked from the PS3 era would be that they would now charge for multiplayer in games via their PS Plus service, which many felt was a fair compromise, since PS Plus subscribers get free games and discounts. Like the XBox One, it was not backwards compatible (which suprised nobody- the PS3's innards are very differnt to the PS4's)
So there's a brief E3 post for you. Nothing really theologically, but two new consoles will hit the market at the end of the year. So some interesting times ahead! Will Sony regain it's old PS2 glories? Will XBox owners stay loyal and pick up Microsoft's offering warts and all? Will Mario ever get over his new suit that turns him into a cat? Only time will tell. Well, I'm out of here. See you soon!
| How the mighty have fallen. Or something. |
Some links 'n' junk.
Playstaion 4
Xbox_One
Wii_U
E3
Coverage of E3 by thesixthaxis
Coverage of E3 by the Penny Arcade Report
No comments:
Post a Comment