E3 2010

[SineSwiper]

Well, it matters a great deal if your developers can't use enough disk space to produce high-quality games, especially back in the day when FMV was the name of the game. It was such a huge limitation that cut down on polygon count, music, and any other area that required a lot of disk space. Not to mention those kinds of limitations would require developers to compress a lot of that content, which translates into loooooooad times.

Combine all of those factors and you get a system might have actually been more powerful than the rest, based on the numbers, but doesn't actually deliver on its promises.

The GameCube was on par with the PS2 and did not beat the Xbox. I mean RE4 looked really good on the GameCube, but the PS2 could have produced the same thing.

As far as the Wii, it is so far behind the other two systems, you might as well call it a GameCube with a different controller.

And the 3DS being more powerful than a smartphone? I'll believe that when I see it. By the way, the new 2GHz phones are already out and while I rag on Apple all the time, they do invest a lot of money in their hardware.

[bovine]

3ds = not particularly powerful

http://kotaku.com/5568573/nintendo-3ds-vs-psp-vs-iphone

[Julius Seeker]

The GPU on the 3DS looks like it is actually very powerful. A Pica200 chip which can be clocked up to 400MHz, in comparison - the Xbox 360 has a 500MHz GPU. I had heard that developers were sayin the power was fairly close to the HD consoles, this is crazy power - I wonder how long the battery will last on this?

Even with the 1120x240 screen area to cover, this seems very very powerful.

http://www.dmprof.com/release/20100621_3DS_EN.html

[SineSwiper]

The GPU on the 3DS looks like it is actually very powerful. A Pica200 chip which can be clocked up to 400MHz, in comparison - the Xbox 360 has a 500MHz GPU. I had heard that developers were sayin the power was fairly close to the HD consoles, this is crazy power - I wonder how long the battery will last on this?

Did you not hear me? I was talking about 2Ghz processors. Actually, only the 1Ghz are out now, but Moto is pushing for a 2Ghz by the end of the year.

Also, we are talking about console-based cycles here. Even if the 3DS was more powerful, it would lose that title 6 months after it was launched. Just the fact that the 3DS has a GPU that potentially matches the 360 goes to show how slow the cycles are.

[Zeus]

Also, we are talking about console-based cycles here. Even if the 3DS was more powerful, it would lose that title 6 months after it was launched. Just the fact that the 3DS has a GPU that potentially matches the 360 goes to show how slow the cycles are.

Very true. But at least we'll know its not going to be a standard under-powered Nintendo handheld. Mind you, whatever power it has will be cut in half as it has to render everything twice for 3D so it may actually look under-powered

[Zeus]

Iwata saying the 3DS will sell above cost day 1

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3180016

[Julius Seeker]

The GPU on the 3DS looks like it is actually very powerful. A Pica200 chip which can be clocked up to 400MHz, in comparison - the Xbox 360 has a 500MHz GPU. I had heard that developers were sayin the power was fairly close to the HD consoles, this is crazy power - I wonder how long the battery will last on this?

Did you not hear me? I was talking about 2Ghz processors. Actually, only the 1Ghz are out now, but Moto is pushing for a 2Ghz by the end of the year.

Also, we are talking about console-based cycles here. Even if the 3DS was more powerful, it would lose that title 6 months after it was launched. Just the fact that the 3DS has a GPU that potentially matches the 360 goes to show how slow the cycles are.

Is Motorola making a portable gaming console with a GPU which clocks higher than 400MHz and projects 3D images? The 3DS will be relevant in 5 years time, will Motorola's phone be relevant in even a year and a half? What assurance do premium game developers and gamers, who subscribe to the premium game market, have for premium games which typically have lengthy dev times (longer than a year, and potentially longer than a phone will remain relevant)?

[Eric]

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/most- ... -e3/701099

More awful E3 moments.

[Julius Seeker]

I am still trying to decide which E3 game I liked the most. Let's just say that I feel like every system has something I find interesting.

DS had my most anticipated game overall in Dragon Quest 9, which is out in 2 weeks. Although this is hardly new news to me, as I have followed this one for a long time now. Nothing new at E3 about this one.

3DS has an incredible launch line-up, which is probably as strong as all Nintendo systems combined. Though we don't get to play it for another year. Of all the games, the 3D Ocarina of Time remake interests me the most.

Wii finally has a good Zelda game; aside from the E3 Conference demo where the IR screwed up (too much interference), it looks like it matches up 1:1 movement, and utilizes it very well. The Kirby game looks like a nice new take on 2D gaming. DKC looks great as well (but I prefer Dixie Kong to the other characters).

Xbox and PS3 had a new Fable game that takes place in the Age of Discovery, this is an excellent era; it was the height of the Samurai and Pirate period - and also a time of Imperialism and high adventure. Also enlightenment and great literary works, and art. If the game takes in these elements to serious levels then it will be a must have for me. The Final Fantasy 13 Versus game looks like a nice epic adventure title that could potentially put the genre back on the map.

Last but not least is PC's Civilization 5, which revamps the series into something new. While the latest releases have been good, nothing really captured the same sort of aura of the first two games. The first one I fell in love with, and the second was my most played game of the 90's. The third and fourth and their expansions made the game series, bigger, more complex, and more interesting; but also less fun. This new formula seems to potentially bring back the fun of Civ 2, but without being overwhelmed with the burden of moving stacks of 70 Crusaders around. Also not really an E3 surprise since I already knew a lot about this one. It is out in three months, and I highly recommend it.

Starcraft 2 on PC as well; you know more than me.


Overall; E3 this year showed a very promising year for gaming; the biggest year in maybe over 10 years. Though I think a Wii Fit upgrade would be a welcome addition; Nintendo didn't even mention the Vitality sensor. There are 30 million balance boards out there, not a bad time to be releasing some complimentary peripherals and software in the Health Pack series.

Overall it was a very nice show.