E3 Cometh: Part 2: Sony
E3 Cometh
The Electronic Entertainment Expo is coming June 17-19 and is looking to be one of the most unpredictable expos of the year. With Nintendo poised to bring out the 3D successor to the DS, the Nintendo 3DS, and promised games to be shown such as Metroid Other M (Nintendo/Team Ninja), Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision/Treyarch), and Metal Gear Solid: Rising (Konami/Kojima Productions). But with every E3 that has come and gone, there have been myriad surprises with everything from surprise games out of nowhere to the next generation of game consoles. So what can we expect from Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft next month? Let’s take a look and make some possibly wild, but educated guesses.
By Loc Da’Borg
In the vastness of the Sony Empire, the PlayStation brand has endured over 15 years on top. Starting with the console race between the original PlayStation, SEGA Saturn and Nintendo 64 and then continuing some 5 years later with the PlayStation 2, SEGA DreamCast and Nintendo GameCube, the PlayStation brand has reigned supreme crushing all more established comers. But now in this current console generation, Sony is now playing catch-up with Nintendo who has realized the mistakes of the last two console cycles and is now where Sony was accustomed to standing: on top. Now with Sony considering the casual gamer, and the introduction of a new motion controller called the Move, Sony has some tricks up it’s sleeve yet.
First, let’s get the disappointment out of the way: The PSP. All signs pointed to it dominating the GameBoy Advance and the coming Nintendo DS. From its advanced graphics (which were on par with the PS2) to its slim design, many media skeptics pointed to the PSP as the one that would topple Nintendo’s grip on the handheld market. Of course it didn’t pan out that way for a myriad of reasons, but now that’s out of the way, we can get back to brass tacks, i.e. the PS3!
One of the things the PS3 has going for it is a loyal and rabid fan-base that is very vocal in online forums and Twitter and wage un-holy war with each other in online multi-player games. With games that have already dropped into their proverbial laps (via their favorite retail stores) such as God of War 3 and Red Dead Redemption and the promise of such games as Dead Space 2 and Metal Gear Solid: Rising, the beat of the war drum for the Sony faithful is ever loudening. Announcements on new games come and go, but the real test of this coming E3 is whether Sony can really pull the hardcore gamers onto the PlayStation Move bandwagon. Here’s two things that I believe Sony will have to pull off to effectively “win” E3 this year.
With the Move, they have to showcase not only new forms of gaming that are only possible with the Move/Eye combo, but also show
that it works exceptionally well with existing forms of gaming such as platformers in the mold of Ratchet and Clank and actioners such as the God of War trilogy. What’s more, and is even more paramount than those successful franchises, is how will the Move accommodate sports gamers? They can ease those gamers’ minds by showcasing all of the above being easily played with the Move and even inviting attending press at the conference to play. This would allow Sony and those in attendance to see not only how easy it is but also how much it adds to the gameplay experience.
How about realizing the promises that the Nintendo Wii’s “wii-mote” held by having the player truly act out the role of quarterback and then running back? How about showing the character Drake picking up a bomb and disarming it with intricate and delicate maneuvers that require pinpoint precision? Or how about utilizing the Move/Eye combo in a way that really lets the player “get into the game” with a First Person Shooter by needing to hold the Move like an actual shotgun or Glock?
The other thing is the implementation of 3D. First there’s going to be a Firmware upgrade to the PS3 for 3D display on a 3D-compatible HDTV. With 3D movies like the best selling theatrical release of all time, Avatar, coming to Blu-ray this fall and the coming of 3D games will bring in new blood and new life to the aging PS3. In essence, Sony needs to show gamers why 3D Blu-ray and gaming is the future and have some 3D games to showcase exactly what they could be and are in for. Perhaps a 3D demo of Ratchet and Clank played live for all in attendance, followed by a 3D reel of games in development played out on that large screen HDTV they’ll surely have behind the presenters. Oh, and let’s not forget all the 3D Blu-ray movies that are coming out. A good trailer of all of all them spotlighting what’s to come.
The games we all want and have been waiting for will come, of that much we can be certain. But the surprises? That’s that E3 is all about.
This isn’t about who will “win” E3 but more about what surprises may be in store and what we, the consumers, can expect and look forward to. Assimilate the knowledge and hopefully this E3 doesn’t disappoint!
[...] Part 2: Sony [...]