E3 2009 part 3 ~ final roundup.

I missed a few things from E3 2009, so this will probably be the final post, with some rant, some opinions and shiz.

PSP Go

So this was announced by Sony this year at E3, or rather leaked early, which led to it being known as the worst kept secret of E3. The new handheld will have a sliding screen mechanism like a mobile phone, with the buttons and control stuff inside.  Here's some of the tech stuff and my opinion on the thing in general.


+Pros
Smaller Size-This thing is roughly 50% smaller and 40% lighter than the PSP. Thats good I guess.

+Bright screen-similar to the one in the PSP 3000, its good quality.

+Lots of PS1 games coming out, including the rather awesome Final Fantasy VII.

+Storage seems good. 16 Gb base, with a slot for memory card for more (up to 32 Gig total I think) 

+Bluetooth for those who care, its good for files and transferring stuff like images, music etc

+Can play music and other non-gaming stuff like the PSP

-Cons

-Pricing. This is one thing that almost kills the thing outright. Damn well headshots it almost. $250. For a handheld that is so-so? [My opinion, it could be very appealing to some people] I mean, isnt that around the same as a Wii? Although I don't play my Wii much, I'd much rather have a Wii than a PSP Go. They got the PS3 prices wrong IMO, hopefully for $ony's sake *cough* they give us price drops quickly on this thing. Or I don't see it selling well.

-They are ditching the UMD hardware. That could be a good thing, as they are noisy and distracting. But they could have taken a leaf out of Nintendo's handheld stuff (bar the DSi). Having backcompatibility is a feature I really like on my consoles. If they do the digital distribution thing well, it could work. However it needs to be a million miles from what PAL gamers have at the moment on the PSP store. They have like a dozen games on there perhaps, maybe 1 or 2 updates every week and those arent even always new releases or all of the new releases. Plus they never seem to go down in price or on sale. The PSN store in Japan is the other extreme, that is done well. 

I just dont like it that I wont be able to play my PSP games. If I pay a shitload for this thing, I need to then buy digital games off the store? What if I wanna go back and play some Disgaea or something? Nah, I cant on this system, which automatically means people won't trade in their PSPs to go towards this. Thanks Sony.

-Its effect on the PSP in the meantime. This is something indirect, and will affect the handheld market in the runup to the PSP Go release. Are third party games developers going to develop games for the PSP knowing that its more expensive to do so on the PSP than the DS and equally important, knowing that PSP software sales are so poor in comparison-largely due to piracy levels but also due to the poor quality of a lot of the games coming out. For me, it seems the DS has a much better game library in place. Plus, even though a lot of people have PSPs, DS sales have far outrun them. 101 million DS's have been sold worldwide, whereas around 51 million PSPs have been sold as of March 09. Lastly,  games developers will see this PSP Go news and think "hmm, Sony are ditching the UMD format some time soon, I won't bother developing this game for the PSP system as it might not sell well." Then they might go to the DS and make their game for that system. 

-No touch screen. I'm not bothered about this. They would have just been ripping it right off from the DS, and although its nice, its very common these days and really not necessary. Still, <3>

-Aesthetically, man its ugly...I really don't like it. Looks like a fatass mechanical Cartman from South Park or something. I dont like the way the bottom half stuff is sunk in..looks bad somehow.

-It has 1 analogue stick, something which is stupid because a lot of games could have benefited from 2 and loads of people were screaming out for 2 nubs on this piece of kit.

Some PSP articles and news;

http://www.gamepro.com/article/previews/210691/psp-go-e3-2009-impressions/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Portable_Go

http://uk.psp.ign.com/articles/993/993402p1.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/e3-2009/5432014/E3-2009-Sony-launches-new-PSP-Go-handheld-games-console.html

Metroid Other M

Hope that isnt the real name, cos that is plain stupid XD...

I dunno, I cant really comment too much as I've missed out on most Metroid games, got the first 2 on the Gamecube, but not finished them. Still, they are well-liked, just like most Nintendo franchises.

Nice graphics for the Wii, I must say. Looks good. Think that'll do for my E3 coverage. *dies of exhaustion.*

E3 2009 part 2~Roundup of news.

There are some other things I am pretty intrigued by. E3 2009 has finished now, and I'm gonna round up all the news that I think is worth talking about. I had wanted to do this initially, but I got swamped by the amount of announcements at the time.

Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC)

Whoa...awesome! If only I had a PC to run this. I doubt my ancient piece of crap will be able to... T_T  Would be cool if it was on 360 too, but I dont think it is.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS)

Gimmicky? Zelda good? Both probably true. Video:

It just looks like they've palette swapped the ocean from Phantom Hourglass for a kind of on-rails continental setting. Cant help all those mountains and trees will make it look very linear and closed in. Hopefully theres a good deal of scope to explore and freely roam about the place. This could be good, but could be more of what we've seen before in Zelda games.

Final Fantasy XIV Online (PS3)

Yup, not a typo. FFXIV will be online only MMORPG a la FFXI. PS3 only apparantely.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174536

Castlevania: Lord of Shadows (Xbox 360/PS3)

Oh yeah! Don't let us down Kojima!

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (DS)

There are a few of the Layton games out in Japan, good to see we are getting more of these now. I'm pretty sure Curious Village sold well, and it was a pretty well done game in my opinion.

http://www.gametrailers.com/game/professor-layton-and-the-diabolical/5429

Project Natal (Microsoft)

This isn't a game per se, just a kind of announcement of something in the works at Microsoft. Its basically this piece of kit which will have motion sensing for controlling, as well as the ability to "scan" items in. For example, on a Tony Hawks or skateboarding game, players will be able to scan their own decks in for use in game. Sounds pretty cool, but hmm also seems familiar...where have I seen something like that before? Yeah, the Wii is way ahead of you Microsoft. They've basically done that already...I'm not too much of a fan of it at times. Although it can work, and perhaps this could be good. With that technology, it could be expensive too. In these times, are people going to want a bunch of peripherals for the console? Price has got to be right for this too. Here's a video. Some of it looks like a direct ripoff from the Wii.

This Natal hardware will be able to recognise a lot of stuff too, Lionhead showcased Natal with Milo, which can recognise details such as facial features and voices and how they change with emotions for example. Apparantely its not scripted, but I dont see how the whole handing the paper thing wasnt. Seems a bit unbelievable really. Pete on youtube (Link) talked about it in his video coverage of E3, check his stuff out, I would really recommend it. Potentially, it could be a very interesting piece of kit which could be capable of breaking down the game to gamer "barrier" that is the controller. Will it be interesting though, or just a gimmick? I don't know if I would be that drawn in to something like that, because of my inhibitions or something, I would feel stupid talking to the TV, similar to the fact that I dont like dancing around like an idiot in the front room on the Wii. Peter Molyneux said everyone that watched the video went to catch the goggles thing that Milo threw, but I'm not so sure I would.

Turning an invisible steering wheel or pointing an invisible gun sounds cool, actually..no it doesn't it sounds a bit stupid really. I'd rather have a more responsive controller, thats one of my qualms with the Wii controls at times, but who knows, this might work well.

Alan Wake (PC, Xbox 360)

I'm not too interested in this at the moment, looks a bit generic. Nice graphics in places though.

Modern Warfare 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

I'm not sure if it will be called this or CoD:Modern Warfare 2...but anyway, looks like more of the same, which probably is a good thing. Don't see what sets it apart from the first though. Heres some video:

Misc Microsoft stuff:

Facebook, Twitter and Last F.M coming to Xbox 360. Urgh...Social Networking's world domination continues to new heights... T_T

Forza Motorsport 3

Nintendo stuff

New Super Mario Bros Wii (Wii)

Visually it could be better, but the gameplay looks really good, like the look of that co-op. I'm wondering how it will turn out. I loved the DS game!

Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

Wii Fit Plus

Wow, now theres this, Wii Fit and that EA Sports thing or whatever it was. Fitness is a big thing they got going on the Wii. Pretty interesting.

Maybe I missed something, but I dont see why you'd need or want to weigh your dog...

Wii Vitality Sensor

So what does this do? Sounds like if you are about to die from overexertion on Wii Fit or whatever, this would start beeping. Hmm, close, but heres what wikipedia says about it.

"The Wii Vitality Sensor is a fingertip pulse oximeter sensor that connects through the Wii Remote. According to Nintendo, the device "will initially sense the user's pulse and a number of other signals being transmitted by their bodies, and will then provide information to the users about the body’s inner world." The Wii Vitality Sensor was announced by Satoru Iwata at Nintendo's E3 2009 media briefing on June 2. No specific applications were revealed for the device, but when presenting the device Iwata suggested that video games may soon be used for relaxation."

E3 2009.

I had already posted about some of the E3 news, but I screwed the HTML coding up somewhere down the line and it stretched my page layout and forced my sidebars to the bottom of the page. So that one got deleted (took me ages that last post... T_T) and I'm going to do some more E3 posts that work this time.

Anyway, E3 2009 started yesterday(June 2nd) in the LA convention centre and so far there has been tonnes of announcements and info about games, games designers and whatnot.

Take a look at the official site here. 

I'll talk about some of the games I'm most interested in and give you some links, videos and info for as much stuff as I can. Enjoy! ;D

Assassin's Creed 2 (PS3, Xbox 360)

Release date set at November 17th. The first game was repetitive but had some very cool features. This sequel is set in Renaissance-era memories by the look of it, Venice in this cinematic trailer.

http://www.gametrailers.com/news/assassin-s-creed-2-release/957?e3i=1

http://e3.gamespot.com/story/6210843/assassins-creed-first-impressions?tag=topslot;thumb;2

http://www.gametrailers.com/news/assassin-s-creed-2-release/957?e3i=1

Crackdown 2 (Xbox 360)

Crysis 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)

So maybe more than 2 people can get to play this one. lol =D

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174478

Dissidia Final Fantasy (PSP)

Dragon Age: Origins (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)

Cant seem to get this to work, so heres the link for some video: http://www.gametrailers.com/game/dragon-age-origins/9022

God of War III (PS3)

Coming March 2010

Golden Sun (DS)s="">" object="" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392">

Video Games | Golden Sun | E3 09: Debut Teaser

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Coming 2010, Awesomeness.

Halo 3: ODST (Xbox 360)

http://www.gametrailers.com/news/halo-3-odst-images-from-e3/961?e3i=1

Halo 3: Reach (Xbox 360)

http://www.gametrailers.com/game/halo-reach/11394

Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360)

This makes me smile. November 17th for this one.

Mass Effect 2 (PC, Xbox 360)

Some new screens and a video. Search for screens, I seem to have lost the link.

Metal Gear Solid: Rising (PS3, Xbox 360)

Coming to the 360, a first for MGS games.

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle (Wii)

http://e3.gamespot.com/story/6210666/no-more-heroes-desperate-struggle-qanda-suda51-talks-travis-touchdown

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS)

ok, this just looks stupid and gimmicky, but you never know, Zelda games can be good. I'm not hugely anticipating this one exactly. I'm far from Zelda fanboy status..all the ones I've played have been slightly underwhelming and overrated in my opinion. *Puts on flamesuit*

I'll update more as E3 continues or I find more stuff out.

Awesomeness.

This video...OMG it is too awesome for words. Enjoy!

Here is some other random junk from my folders. Wait, I mean more pure AWESOME! YEAH! XD

Click em' for enlarged amounts of awesome.

Edit with more Awesome shiz:

Some random crap I found on youtube. I don't know what the hell just happened, but I want that onion suit and a cheese curry XD

Hahaha so true!

I just love the inventory thing in this one XD

More Pokaymons stuff.

Played a bit more of Platinum today (actually a LOT, like for most of the day) and after getting the 2nd badge, my traded pokemon up to lv30 would obey me (according to the manual.) So that was a load off my mind, I was able to train up my team without them loafing around and dying in battle.

This is the team now, with 2 badges. I am just through Mt. Coronet at the berry master's house (but I've backtracked and saved next to a patch of berries waiting on them growing for now)

Grotle lv 26 - Razor Leaf, Tackle, Bite, Curse

Weavile lv 26 - Faint Attack, Quick Attack, Fury Swipes, Taunt

Aerodactyl lv 26 - Ancientpower, Bite, Agility, Supersonic

Meditite lv 26 - Hidden Power (fighting), Confusion, Calm Mind, Feint (this was worse than I thought ><)

Chinchou lv 26 *New addition* - Water Gun, Spark, Confuse Ray, Take Down

I found that the previous 4 I was going through with was lacking water and electric moves, and moves on the special side of things, so I had a look through my Diamond boxes and found a Chinchou at the perfect level for my team. Transferred that across to help out and I've been levelling them a bit before I go for the next gym.

The moves on my team aren't amazing, but I dont really want to "waste" any TMs on this team. I prefer keeping them till I train up better pokemon after the Elite 4. 

I just need to remember and keep them under 30 until I get 4 badges...Dont think that will happen if they are at 26 already and I've not even got 3 yet. T_T 

I've also been trying to figure out what to put in the final slot in the team. No idea really...was thinking that Ice/Ghost thing. I don't know why but I decided early on when I was designing the team that none of the pokemon's types would overlap ie. Only 1 of each type max across the team. I feel it gives me better coverage against greater amounts of pokemon and less wasted. Definitely helps if I'm not teaching any TMs to this team as I'll be able to have a wider natural movepool, if you follow, with no need to waste moves from TMs.