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June marks the biggest gaming event of the year as the Electronic Entertainment Expo opened its doors to industry heavyweights at the Los Angeles Convention Center last week. More than 300 video games were revealed including Nintendo’s exciting new 3-D handheld console and new motion control peripherals from both Microsoft and Sony.
Innovation and evolution branded this year’s video game convention as the big three — Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony — aspired to excite both enthusiasts and casual gamers alike. So which competitor had the strongest showing? Here is your guide to 2010’s E3 showcase.
Microsoft
The biggest announcement from the Microsoft camp this year was the Xbox 360’s newest innovation, the Kinect. Utilizing its player’s body movements without any need of a controller, the Kinect seeks to put the “play” back in gameplay by asking its gamers to stand up from their seats and become their characters onscreen.
Using the Kinect’s motion sensor, participants will be able to swing imaginary lightsabers, dance to “Rock Band” creator Harmonix’s “Dance Central” and volley digital soccer balls with a friend. Microsoft also announced a new slim version of its Xbox 360 which totes built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, an HDMI port and additional high-speed USB ports to better prepare for the Kinect’s November release.
Games showcased included “Halo: Reach,” the prequel to Microsoft’s hallmark series, as well as “Gears of War 3,” the final chapter in Epic Game’s apocalyptic thriller.
Most Anticipated Games: “Halo: Reach,” “Gears of War 3,” “Child of Eden”
Nintendo
If the Wii isn’t enough evidence of Nintendo’s forward-thinking, then this year’s unveiling of the 3DS handheld console surely exists as testament to the legendary game company’s vast knowledge of the market and the future of video games. Following the success of the Nintendo DS, the second-highest-selling console worldwide, the 3DS offers gamers a 3-D gaming experience with no glasses required.
Games on display included re-mastered classics such as “Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D” and new titles such as “Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D” and “Resident Evil Revelations.”
Although for the most part it took a backseat at the convention, the Wii ended up complementing Nintendo’s showcase with a gorgeous new Zelda title and the successor of the time-honored GoldenEye shooter.
Most Anticipated Games: “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sward” (Wii), “Kid Icarus: Uprising” (3DS)
Sony
Sony’s E3 showing seemed to be lacking in innovation, but it added a few layers to its home entertainment powerhouse console, the Playstation 3. Much of the showcase was devoted to the PS3 Move, a new motion control peripheral made up of a Wii-like set of remotes and a camera. Many experts have deemed the new product as the “Wii HD,” presenting PS3 owners and game developers a gaming experience akin to the Wii, yet powered by the PS3’s superior engine.
A premium online gaming service was announced to better combat Microsoft’s Xbox Live along with a firmware update that would render PS3 games in 3-D for those lucky owners of the latest 3-D televisions. Platformer throwback “Little Big Planet 2” had a mini hands-on demonstration, and new trailers of “Killzone 3” and “Gran Turismo 5” highlighted Sony‘s strongest software offerings.
Most Anticipated Games: “Little Big Planet 2,” “Killzone 3,” “inFamous 2”
Best of the Rest
Leading the pack in cross-console software this year was Valve’s “Portal 2,” the mind-bending sequel to 2007’s game of the year. Treyarch’s “Call of Duty: Black Ops” was also presented and looks to be yet another huge release from the incredibly popular franchise.
EA gave a sneak-peak of its upcoming sports titles to the delight of its “Madden”-crazed fans. iD’s “Rage” unveiling might be the most graphically polished game of this console generation. Finally, a new on-demand gaming service, “Onlive,” will allow gamers to rent and own games without the need of a console via broadcast streaming.
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