E3 2010 Retrospective

Now that the dust has settled from E3's and pretty much every blog under the sun has written something about it, it's time for PS3 Gaymers to make their own contribution. We're mainly going to focus on Sony's presentation, but obviously there's [a little] more to E3 than PlayStation, so we'll be looking at Nintendo's launch of the 3DS, and Microsoft's presentation of it's new Kinect technology and the PS3 Slim-alike, the revised Xbox 360 model.

Christopher Parkes

Sony's conference this year was probably the least risky and least surprising of the "big 3". There was a heavy focus on the PS3's future: Move, 3D and new PSN services, even going so far as to clear space for them by announcing three new major iterations in it's biggest IP's before E3.... but it's overtures to it's core audience of gamers were very welcome, and at one particular moment, actually quite moving.

[Steve: As a comment to that, I can't say the Microsoft conference was any more surprising (and I have not watched the Nintendo one). ]

As someone who wasn't particularly sold on Move to begin with, it was nice to come away from the keynote speech feeling invigorated and enthusiastic about the possibilities Move offers.While superficially appearing to be a Wii-too proposition, the depth Move offers combined with that PS3 muscle could make for some real innovation in the future if it can resist the inevitable tide of shovelware that will accompany it's launch later this year. Those fears were partly allayed by the announcement of the inclusion of the underperforming Dead Space: Extraction as a PS3-exclusive for EA and Visceral Games' Dead Space 2. The possibility of some of the other hardcore titles that could not find a home on the Wii finding their feet with Move is an enticing one. [Steve: I'm not particularly sold on Move (or other Wii-like things) either, but when Sony showed us Sorcery I thought "Hey, this does look like fun!" ]

Whilst Sony is starting to really push their 3D Bravia technology, Nintendo's announcement of the 3DS and the rabid enthusiasm which followed made Sony's efforts look a bit slow off the blocks... but, if there's one thing the PlayStation 3 has proved in the last 18 months is that Sony is master of the long haul, and the futureproofing of the PS3 tech seems ever more like an expertly calculated risk. Feedback from the 3D build of Killzone 3 has been mixed, but it will be interesting to see what we make of it in August. [Steve: I was really hoping for an announcement about a 3D capable PSP2. Regardless of that, I do think 3D on PS3 is a much bigger deal than the 3DS.]


No surprises with subscription service PlayStation Plus-aside from the oft-rumoured cross-game chat being highly conspicuous by it's absence. Sony's services, much like the XMB, have been slow and iterative, so PS Plus may yet prove it's worth....but free LBP? Ka-ching, sold, kthnxluvubaaai!
[Steve: I am not sure if LBP was the right choice, though. I assume many of the die-hard PS3 fans will have this already. Right?].
[Chris: There's just no pleasing some people.]


All this aside, the one moment that stood out for me, more than any other, was the appearance of Kevin Butler. Apart from the fact that he stands for everything Sony has learned and got right since the PS3's very difficult launch period, his speech managed to both knock the competition and embrace it, and as a validation of gaming as a lifestyle choice (and let's face it, it kind of is) it was almost as big as watching Gus Van Sant's Milk quite frankly. I had tears in my eyes-happy tears, the kind when someone says they love you just the way you are, and that the 'Heroic Survivor' trophy really does signify something more than the 'bling' chime that accompanies it. For a major company like Sony to be able to remember and connect so intimately with it's REAL audience at E3, not just the shareholders, was enough for me.

[Steve: Butler... hmm...no comment].
[Chris: Readers, ignore Steve at this point, please.]

Perhaps the peeps at the Nintendo conference felt the same way. After feeling years of neglect in favour of Ant and Dec getting a bunch of grannies to pay Wii Sports, they're getting some of gaming's biggest franchises on a surprisingly powerful handheld. Someone, somewhere in Nintendo really has their finger on the pulse. I'm no Zelda fan, and despite some of the bugs that the always-charismatic Shigeru Miyamoto had to contend with in the Zelda demo, it is clear that even this far into the Wii's lifespan, Nintendo has lost none of it's vigour and the ability to innovate and adapt with it's newfound market. this is not a company that is resting on it's gilded laurels.
[Steve: I did not watch the Nintendo conference, but the impressions I read about the 3DS are indeed very positive.]

Microsoft on the other hand, despite their stunning performance last year, delivered a bewildering presentation for Kinect and the revised 360, full of overthought marketing concepts; who in their right minds thought it would be a good idea to put hundreds of attendees in UV-glow ponchos in an overheated marquee tent? And then BAN WATER? For what is wildly considered the "hardcore" console, their new focus on the casual market clearly means business, but it also left it's current audience feeling left out, crying out for the games. Sure, the 360 stalwart Gears Of War 3 made an appearance (alongside Cliffy B, perhaps the only developer with biceps out there), and Greenberg promises a slew of titles at GamesCom in August, but gamers, perhaps the ripest audience for Kinect will have to be looked after better than river-rafting titles if the 360 wants to remain connected to it's core. That said, the buzz after E3 for Kinect was substantial-more so than Move-so the proof will be in the pudding.
[Steve: The Microsoft conference had Cliffy B. !!! :p ].

Alejandro Torres
(He doesn't know much about the Gold Standard,but he does love kittens!)

I think it's clear based on Sony's E3 2010 presentation, and the fact that Sony announced their major titles like inFamous 2, LBP 2, GT-5 and Killzone 3 before E3, that their goals for E3 were twofold. The first goal was to push 3D gaming. As seen with all the new games that will be supporting 3D (like Killzone 3D - love you Christopher!). The second goal was to establish the PS Move as something more than Wii HD and more "hardcore" - yet still user friendly. Games like SOCOM 4 and Sorcerer proved this point extremely well.

I truly believe that Sony came out on top. Microsoft seeemd content to show a bunch of shooters; where's the variety? What, Fable III? When it comes to Kinect the technology seems amazing, but I believe they haven't applied it well to games [Chris: Yet]. Sure, it'd be great to watch a movie using your voice for commands, but that's about it.

[Steve: Was that Fable 3 or Fable 333? It is always Fable you see at Microsoft presentations. The part about Kinect took way too long. I did like the new 360 Dashboard and the integrated voice control, but I did wonder whether that voice control will be really useful or just a nice gimmick. ].


When it comes to Nintendo a lot of gaming media is claiming Nintendo as the "winner of E3." I honestly think they're just rewarding laziness. Sure, they announced a whole bunch of new titles for the Wii. They showed the 3DS and an impressive roster of launch titles... however, the only reason they had to do this, is because all the bad press they have received before for not caring about the "hardcore gamer," and for having "boring," and "uninteresting" E3 presentations in 2009 and 2010. [Chris: don't underestimate the love people have for Nintendo-they've been around longer than the other two, and hold a dear place in many gamers' hearts. The response is partly a bottled up cry from the gamers who have been waiting for Nintendo to return that love.]

Steve, thanks for reminding me that the PSP2 was absent from Sony's press conference. I really want to buy a PSP, but I'm holding out until the PSP2 is formally announced. Don't want to risk buying one today and the PSP 2 being revealed tomorrow.

I must add that Sony has struck gold with Kevin Butler, VP of Everything; those five minutes on stage were worth every penny for them. Long live Kevin Butler.

[Steve: again: no comment!].
[Chris: Steve, the only reason you're getting away with the Kevin Butler asides is you're Dutch and I love you. But he ruled. Fact.].