E3 - Pre-Show Announcements Overwhelm, Entertain

Thanks to GameSpot for its massive E3 update list, GameSpy for a similar E3 index, IGN for its latest E3 news, and 1UP for its E3 dispatches, as the major gaming sites update on "hundreds of new games" revealed leading up to the E3 Expo in Los Angeles. New highlights include an "epic three-hour press conference" revealing Konami's new games, including screenshots of Metal Gear Acid for PSP, and elsewhere, screenshots and a preview of Metroid Prime Hunters for Nintendo DS, the announcement and screenshots of "unique armband"-toting EyeToy: AntiGrav for PS2, preview and screenshots of Mario 64x4 for Nintendo DS, and much, much more. What's been your favorite hardware or software revelation so far?

Comments

Nintendo DS looks most impressive

[tttonyyy]

Given the choice I'd go for the Ninty DS. That optical drive on the PSP is bound to cause battery life issues, and I quite like the dual-screen arrangement over the PSP single screen (even though it's a good size). Is it just me, or are the titles announced for the PSP not very exciting compared to the DS? At least Nintendo have got some innovation in there rather than churning out the usual sports muck.

Re:Nintendo DS looks most impressive

[Anonymous Coward]

The DS seems to be solidly designed and delivers on all fronts. Backlit, SNES-style four button pad, larger for larger kids, wireless 16-player multiplayer (sooo convenient), microphone and headphone jacks, full GBA compatability, and all while managing a respectable 10-hour battery life. As far as new software goes it's almost too good to be true the number of games they have coming out. Sure, that's all what you should expect, but when you get it and it delivers it's something else than just expecting.

I'm looking forward to Animal Crossing DS myself. Could you imaging having people (up to 16, I hope) wander into your town by just turning on their DS wireless from ~100 feet away. Imagine how many people you'll just bump into playing ACDS waiting in the airport or on a train. And the pen-based typing system is a godsend compared to the original Gamecube version. I'd venture to say it's easily superior.

If 10% of the DS games can surprise me like Animal Crossing DS I won't need any other system.

Re:Nintendo DS looks most impressive

[aliens]

Just a note on Battery life. If you play without sound battery life is insane.

I've been playing Zelda: LTP on my GBA:SP backlit all the time, without sound and I don't know how far over the 10hours I've gone, but I seriously cannot remember the last time I had to dig out my charger.

My Favorite?

[Undefined Parameter]

That one's easy--Halo 2. I wasn't able to be physically present at E3, but I'd still gone into it with little enthusiasm and nominal expectations. I expected some more progress from Halflife 2, maybe another movie from the Doom 3 folks, and, if lucky, something from Blizzard, as well. I knew that Bungie was going to be at E3, but all I expected from them was, at the most, another teaser or demo video. They pretty much "submarined" their way into the conference, with just about nothing coming out of them as to whether or not they were even going to be there until last Thursday.

So they showed up, and I wasn't there for it, off studying for a more-important Final Exam. I get back, check a website or two, and WHAM! Halo news sites have gone bonkers. So I get curious and start checking things out... couple of interviews, ok, nothing too awful special, damn spiffy new screenshots, and... sweet jeebus, they had a playable demo and there's already a shakey-cam version of the presentation they gave before they allowed folks to have at it. I watch the presentation, of course, expecting something along the lines of Halo's multiplayer action in look and feel.

Nope, I'm most pleasantly surprised. Even through the really crappy compression and resolution, I'm blown away. Customizable this, that, and another thing, new weapons that look, sound, and work better than anything I've seen in a video game, before, and... destructable environments AND intelligently-designed destructable vehicles!? Woah, momma!

So, yeah... definately going with Halo 2, there, and I'm rather unsure why it hasn't been covered here.

~UP

Nintendo DS

[clu76]

The DS looks like it's gonna be "Da Sheeit!" I was skeptical at first. But now the details are out, I can't wait to get my hands on one of these. Favorite features are the stylus and the wireless.

Also looking forward to Zelda, Doom III, Super Mario DS and Tron Killer App.