Longest blog ever... (riveting sequel to "Shortest blog ever...")

Wall of text powers, activate!

          Alright this is a follow up to the blog I wrote yesterday entitled “Shortest blog ever…”. Well It’s sort of a follow up, I just didn’t have time to write yesterday so I am going to do it now. YAAAY!

          The topic I will try and focus on is E3. I know, I know, everyone is talking about E3 this time of year. Well I want to document what I’m thinking pre-E3 for a fun comparison come post-E3. I am going to lay out what I want to see from each of the three big press conferences, as well as what I actually think will happen in some cases if what I really want seems a bit far-fetched.  Alright, no better way to kick this off than with a random ass picture…

Internets is serious!

Now that that’s out of the way, on to real business...

real business

Microsoft:

          I’m going to start with Microsoft because the system I primarily play is my 360, so naturally I am most hyped about the things that could potentially go down with Bill Gates and crew.

OK, what I want from Microsoft this year is:

          First and foremost, one or two amazing surprise announcements. As long as I am surprised, I will walk away happy. I honestly don’t know if this is possible due to the slew of craaaazy rumors that have been flying around lately. If Microsoft can really pull something out of their bag of tricks that nobody has even reported as a rumor, that would be pretty cool. This can be anything really, I’m not going to try and guess at what this may be. I just want something crazy to go down.

          Besides that, maybe the biggest thing that I think I can expect to see from Microsoft is details on the Zune HD. One can only hope for a J Allard appearance to go with it. As many people know already, a few specs were recently released and the devices existence was officially confirmed as well. But details were not released on what the plan is for integrating the Zune Marketplace into the Xbox 360. The Zune team has had a theme for a few years now that is yet to really emerge from current Zune hardware, 360 integration, etc. Their basic idea is to have the ultimate link between your “three screens”. By three screens, they mean your T.V., your computer, and your portable device (Zune). The potential with the new Zune HD features seems almost limitless. A good example of where the Zune HD is headed is the ability to stream literally millions of songs directly to your Zune anywhere you have a Wi-Fi connection. This will rely on a Zune Marketplace subscription in order to run this kind of setup, but the thought of having literally millions of songs at your fingertips without the need of some fifty terabyte hard drive or anything like that is awesome. Anyways, I’m seriously starting to digress here so let’s reel it back in shall we?  :P

          Another thing I hope to see that may seem fat-fetched is some kind of Xbox portable device. This is a post I made in a forum topic a little while back on the subject:

“True but I think I would be very interested in a potential Xbox handheld, and I don't think I am the only one. What needs to happen if there is an Xbox handheld is serious gamertag integration, achievements, etc. Basically everything between the console and the handheld need to be constantly linked. As well as some really cool "killer app" style feature. And a traditional killer app wouldn't hurt either. But please nothing Halo related.”

          Those are basically my thought on this. I really don’t think it’s probable for Microsoft to be making a handheld system right now. I mean they have their hands full with their current hardware issues as it is. But everyone keeps saying, “Microsoft is a software company, not a Hardware company”. I totally get that and why someone would make that point. But I think the time is quickly approaching where Microsoft will be considered as much of a hardware company as it is a software company. Having released two consoles, one fairly successful and one being the current generation leader, I think they are on the right track. Not to mention their development of “Microsoft Surface” which looks amazing by the way, is just another example of their hardware. In my opinion, it eventually will be common sense for Microsoft to go ahead and launch a portable game platform. Is this the year? Probably not. Could it hurt to hope that it is? Absolutely not!    :P

I feel like I have gone on enough about Microsoft. As MC Hammer might say:  STOP, Sony time!

Sony:

          Oh Sony, what can I say about you? I’m actually not entirely sure considering I don’t own a PS3. You know what?  That actually works out because now I can list things that I believe would convince me to go out and blow $500. OK, let’s see here:

          First off, more exclusives. I know everyone complains about the PS3 game selection, but for good reason in my eyes. And it’s not like I want a ton of exclusives, it’s just something the system seems to be lacking that I think would force more people to buy a PS3. Anyways, I look up and down at all the “higher end” PS3 games and there are only a handful that appeal to me. Sure there is Metal Gear,  Little Big Planet (maybe?), and Infamous looks great too. There are a couple more, but as far as PS3 exclusives that I couldn’t play anywhere else and had to have a PS3 to play, there aren’t many. That’s my main reason for holding off so far so if Sony wants me to fork over $400-$500, they better be inventing new Sony published IPs that are amazing, and they had better do it quick.

          Now that I’m thinking about this, I think the PS3 is pretty awesome. It can play Blu-rays, which I assume will be around for the next 10 years at least. They have trophies now to match achievements which is cool. Some of the PSN games are really wacky (and good) looking. I mean the system has a lot going for it. If it wasn’t for the lack of interesting first party titles and the fact that the system is a small fortune, I would most definitely own one by now. So I think that’s all I can say about this one. Cut the price and announce an awesome game or two please!

OK, now it’s time to move onto Nintendo.

Nintendo:

          The first thing I hope to see a lot of on Nintendo’s part is Motion Plus support. I want them to come out and announce that they have partnered with some awesome company and are now planning to make a motion plus specific game for each major sport by the end of the year or SOMETHING like that. Not necessarily sports games but I just want to see long term plans for the Motion Plus that look promising at the least.

          Another thing I pretty much have come to expect from Nintendo the past couple years is a first party game that will appear to revolutionize the way the Wii’s controls are used in games. Of course the games (Wii Fit, Wii Music) haven’t been the masterpieces initially promised, I’m guessing Nintendo has yet another crazy first party title up their sleeve. Hopefully it actually turns out as advertised this time. Wii Fit turned out more or less as advertised but just didn’t connect well with an American audience in my opinion. While Wii Music was a game I believed to be a bit misleading. They made it seem like you had more custom control over the music than what it turned out to be.

          Lastly, and I REALLY hope this one happens, is Nintendo will reveal the first and probably last Zelda game actually developed for the Wii (as opposed to Twilight Princess which was a Gamecube game ported to Wii). How awesome would that be? The Zelda series is my favorite series of all time and if a new Zelda trailer was announced like the Twilight Princess trailer was a few years ago, I might join in on the screaming this time.

        

  Wrap Up

          As I wrote this I noticed a trend in game companies that needs to be broken. The thing is, The PS3 is a Japanese made system. So naturally it appeals more to Japan and sells a crap load there too, yet struggles in America. The 360 is American, and it obviously sells more here in America then across the Pacific. The Wii sells more in Japan but also sells pretty well anywhere, so I think they have figured it out. To sell the most consoles, you can’t just appeal to you own country. Both Microsoft and Sony need to step out of their comfort zones and pursue the other audiences. In my opinion both companies have bad foreign appeal and should work hard on appealing to all customers. Maybe this E3 these companies will realize this. One could only hope.

Well this is the end of the LONGEST BLOG EVER! I am really excited for this years E3 and I hope to see some Rich Gallup and/or Alex Navarro action on the special E3 Bombcasts all next week. (Please?  :P)

Peace everyone, and enjoy E3!

The Laws of Jeff

 I will leave you with a quote to live by:

"You can’t beat 100%, The only real power is power, and double decker tacos are pretty awesome."

--Jeff Gerstmann