E3 2011 - General Thread

[heybtbm]

Jeez! You guys are acting like a bunch of gossipy egotistical teenage girl snap-judging with ruthless shallowness like a blood-thirsty beartrap

Nice strawman, but it doesn't reflect the conversations going on in this thread.

[portnoyd]

They should call it "Wii-Ping" (as in, weeping) for all the dedicated Nintendo fans The Big N loves to stomp. All three main pressers didn't offer much to me, but Nintendo's direction is most troubling and unnecessary. Replacement controllers will probably be pretty expensive.

Wii U? More like Pii U, because frankly the thing stinks. Gimmicky and gimmickier again. While it seems neat, was it really necessary? Hell no. The Wiimote at least offered something we didn't have before (kinda)

[Press_Start]

Nice strawman, but it doesn't reflect the conversations going on in this thread.


The U controller is the most ridiculous gaming device I've seen in years...possibly ever. Who the hell wants to hold on to that thing? Nintendo repeatedly mentioned how all Wii accessories would work with the Wii U...no kidding! No one will be using that monstrosity after an hour or so. God, what an embarrassment. Can't wait to see the Nintendo Mafia spin this one positive. Absolutely awful.

Hey everybody...I have a low-rez iPad that can't be used more than 15 feet away from my TV. It's the future! Lol.

Hello "Strawman".

[NayusDante]

Specs (http://e3src.nintendo.com/hw/#/about), or at least Nintendo-published technical details.

Launches:
2012

Size:
Approximately 1.8 inches tall, 6.8 inches wide and 10.5 inches long.

New Controller:
The new controller incorporates a 6.2-inch, 16:9 touch screen and traditional button controls, including two analog Circle Pads. This combination removes the traditional barriers between games, players and the TV by creating a second window into the video game world. The rechargeable controller includes a Power button, Home button, +Control Pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons and ZL/ZR buttons. It includes a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope, rumble feature, camera, a microphone, stereo speakers, a sensor strip and a stylus.

Other Controls:
Up to four Wii Remote™ (or Wii Remote Plus) controllers can be connected at once. The new console supports all Wii™ controllers and input devices, including the Nunchuk™ controller, Classic ControllerTM, Classic Controller ProTM and Wii Balance Board™.

Media:
A single self-loading media bay will play 12-centimeter proprietary high-density optical discs for the new console, as well as 12-centimeter Wii optical discs.

Video Output:
Supports 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i. Compatible cables include HDMI, component, S-video and composite.

Audio Output:
Uses AV Multi Out connector. Six-channel PCM linear output through HDMI.

Storage:
The console will have internal flash memory, as well as the option to expand its memory using either an SD memory card or an external USB hard disk drive.

CPU:
IBM Power®-based multi-core microprocessor.

Other:
Four USB 2.0 connector slots are included. The new console is backward compatible with Wii games and Wii accessories.




Interesting things:
-No GameCube peripheral support
-Six-Channel PCM via HDMI, so 5.1 digital but not 7.1? Also, no optical audio connection?
-S-Video lives on in 2012
-10.5" long... Not sure if that's the dimensions of the controller or the console. Controller is definitely kinda big though, now that I've seen more video of it.

Looks like the batteries are rechargeable this time. Note the screw-on back panel.

http://e3src.nintendo.com/_ui/img/hw/playstyle/hardware/7.jpg

[Icarus Moonsight]

This whole industry is unnecessary. It's luxury and entertainment! Everything starts as a 'gimmick' in these types of things, literally everything. It's just, repeat a gimmick enough or it survives and stays in use for so long and people forget that it ever was one.

Don't make me post hipster cat up in here!

[TonyTheTiger]

I played with the Game Gear. I can play with this.

[Enigmus]

I think it's safe to say that my name for the system is now "Wii Umad" :)

[heybtbm]

Hello "Strawman".

Your tears are delicious

Quick, someone post the Butthurt Report Form. I'm on my phone and can't copy/paste.

In short...relax.

[Swamperon]

The reveal of the WiiU was a bit underwhelming in it self. When you reveal a new console like that, have actual games beyond tech demos and current gen ports to back it up. Especially after waffing on how software drives hardware.

The console itself doesn't do enough to differentiate itself from the Wii design-wise. It's basically a Wii with rounded corners. Can't say that's a good move for the expanded market.

And after all that 3rd party buzz, all is shown is some Lego game and EA talking for 2 mins? Doesn't really inspire confidence.

But, I do think it will be good, I will be buying one (ZeldaHD and SSB 4 can not be missed). They should have shown some 1st party trailers.

No mention of Wii was disappointing, even though they have trailers for Wii Kirby and Mario Party 9 being released. Why didn't they talk about this?

A big yes to the Zelda 25th plans! Free CD? Free Zelda Four Swords? Zelda Concert going on tour? Hell yeah!!!

And Professor Layton and the Last Spectre has being confirmed for a release later this year! :D

[NayusDante]

The reveal of the WiiU was a bit underwhelming in it self. When you reveal a new console like that, have actual games beyond tech demos and current gen ports to back it up. Especially after waffing on how software drives hardware.

Another E3 will come and go before launch. Expect trailers and hard title announcements then.

[Tupin]

I've read the analog sticks are not like the 3DS ones.

[Press_Start]

The reveal of the WiiU was a bit underwhelming in it self. When you reveal a new console like that, have actual games beyond tech demos and current gen ports to back it up. Especially after waffing on how software drives hardware.

Like I said, it's a tease, they won't reveal all their cards so soon. I'm sure they're planning to release more tidbits and trailers on Wii U over the next year building hype up to the release.

But right now, Nintendo's focus in 2011 is on 3DS and there's lots to look forward come December. :D

[Swamperon]

Like I said, it's a tease, they won't reveal all their cards so soon. I'm sure they're planning to release more tidbits and trailers on Wii U over the next year building hype up to the release.

But right now, Nintendo's focus in 2011 is on 3DS and there's lots to look forward come December. :D

I know but I'm an impatient git ;) I guess seeing ZeldaHD and the tease of Super Smash Bros 4 raised my expectations too high!

[j_factor]

Wii U? More like Pii U

That pun is way too obvious. Did they put any thought into the name at all?

[substantial_snake]

Unless I'm missing something don't the "Circle Pads" on the new controller look like giant analog sticks?

[PapaStu]

That pun is way too obvious. Did they put any thought into the name at all?


Wii U(ncut)!

[Dobie]

That pun is way too obvious. Did they put any thought into the name at all?

The best one I've heard today is that it sounds like a firetruck... Wii U Wii U Wii U Wii U. I cannot un-hear that.

[Cornelius]

That pun is way too obvious. Did they put any thought into the name at all?

Well, it isn't like the Wii wasn't ripe for all kinds of puns when it started out, too. I think people just bore of it or get it out of their system very quickly when it is so easy.

[WanganRunner]

I know but I'm an impatient git ;) I guess seeing ZeldaHD and the tease of Super Smash Bros 4 raised my expectations too high!

Meh, 5 seconds of Zelda HD cannot distract me from the 31 flavors of awesome that are the Skyward Sword trailer. I have never been so excited for a Zelda game.

More good things:

-Mario 3DS will doubtless be incredible.
-Luigi's Mansion 2 looks great.
-Kirby Wii AWWWWWWW YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
-WiiU is impressive to me, just because it will change how consoles are used (perhaps not so much how games are played). I will be able to play Mario on the can though, which is great.


Less good things:

-Icarus not until the holidays? Why? Looks great though.
-Zelda OoT, Starfox 64, and Snake Eater don't really interest me. Meh to remakes.
-WHERE THE HELL IS PIKMIN 3? DID I MISS SOMETHING?
-I want a Waverace 3DS :(

-

[Gentlegamer]

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d173/Gentlegamer/wiiudissapointmeanbr.gif

[pixelsnpolygons]

Ugh. Just typed out a long reply and hit send only for it to send me to the log-in page again. Won't bother typing it all up again. In a nutshell, I have some real reservations about Wii U. And I used the Malibu Stacy with a hat comparison before I even saw that funny gif. Seems like I'm not alone in my feelings.

[Leo_A]

I was hoping they'd do something more substantial to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Zelda franchise. A free Four Swords game download isn't much of a celebration. But I guess it's in line with how they treated the Super Mario Brothers franchise last year.


Dear lord that controller is huge.

When you compare it to other pictures of people holding things like handheld systems, it doesn't look so bad. And without things like cartridge ports, UMD drives, most of the internals of a handheld system (I'm sure there's not a powerful processor inside there or a lot of memory), it might be surprisingly light.

http://i56.tinypic.com/t9fujd.png

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSbjH4GbfwWabyPImrUHx-K7HqT_fMt6BwepTWVaoFT40_9AX6U


How so? I want all the 3DS games and Zelda for the Wii, but where were the new Wii games? Where were the new DS games for that matter or even the new games for the WiiU? The best they could do was an announcement of a new Lego game?

The release of the system is quite a ways away. It's not coming this fall and most feel like it won't be released until late 2012. I thought we learned a surprising amount on this new system at such an early date. And more than just a Lego game was announced. A good half dozen or so 3rd party games were announced and I'm looking at screens of New Super Mario Brothers Mii for the system right now (Officially just a tech demo, but I bet it becomes a full fledged retail title).

Things like a lot of game announcements make more sense for next year's E3. We learned some basic details on the new system today, and that falls perfectly in line with how Nintendo has handled past launches like the Wii (First announced at their 2004 E3 press conference, officially unveiled at the 2005 E3 conference, controller unveiled at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show, and software largely demoed, showcased, and announced at the 2006 E3 conference).


Unless I'm missing something don't the "Circle Pads" on the new controller look like giant analog sticks?

They look like normal analog sticks to me. They don't look like giant ones.

[Trebuken]

I thought all the conferences were promising. There were few surprises. Most of the big titles had been reveled before; we simply got more footage.

There is another show in Japan in a couple months. Nintendo usually holds back information for that show. I did get the impression that the Wii and DS will be abandoned shortly. Espeacially the Wii.

I think they can use the Wii-U as a DS player, possibly a 3DS player if you have a 3D TV.

[substantial_snake]

So after watching a few videos they really do look like analog "nubs" like on the psp. As in they have no range of motion outside of sliding the stick around, there is no pivot in the sticks themselves..this kinda turns me off about this controller.

[The 1 2 P]

Wii U? More like FU. I knew Nintendo was going to stick with the kiddy names.

After reading the highlights I had no idea what the hell this thing was suppose to be. It appeared like the controller was the actual system itself and the box was just used as an imput device. So I watched the show on Gamespot. Can't say I was very impressed although the controller does intrigue me a bit.

I was falling asleep during Nintendo's conference, though admittedly I didn't get much sleep last night. The new Mario Kart looked ok but there was nothing else that really caught my interest(besides Ninja Gaiden 3 but thats multiplatform). I'm willing to give Nintendo the benefit of the doubt until they start revealing more about everything else the FU will be able to do. But regardless of any improvements it's image gets it won't be a day one purchase for me. It's launching during the holidays of 2012. By that time I will be happily playing Halo 4 and Call of Duty: White Wash.

[Swamperon]

Meh, 5 seconds of Zelda HD cannot distract me from the 31 flavors of awesome that are the Skyward Sword trailer. I have never been so excited for a Zelda game.

Less good things:

-Icarus not until the holidays? Why? Looks great though.
-Zelda OoT, Starfox 64, and Snake Eater don't really interest me. Meh to remakes.
-WHERE THE HELL IS PIKMIN 3? DID I MISS SOMETHING?
-I want a Waverace 3DS :(

-

Ah SS did look good! Day 1 purchase! Didn't care for Zelda's design however.

Pikmin 3 has been confirmed to be in development for the WiiU at the private conference we plebians aren't privy too. I'd love it they could make the whole game in that clay style we often see Pikmin in.

[WanganRunner]

Ah SS did look good! Day 1 purchase! Didn't care for Zelda's design however.

Pikmin 3 has been confirmed to be in development for the WiiU at the private conference we plebians aren't privy too. I'd love it they could make the whole game in that clay style we often see Pikmin in.

^^
Phew....glad to hear about Pikmin 3. I was going to have to choke a b*tch.

I want to see more new original titles, but I can't argue with what they're doing with the existing franchises.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I'm glad it doesn't look like a router/sat box, but that name...

I'd like to formally request Nintendo rethink the name. It's freakishly bad.
How about Wiindo? (Wii + [Ninte]ndo) OMG MS lawsuits!!! LOL

Branding and marketing need to be slapped, hard. Again for 3DS, thrice for it's marketing failure.

Can't wait, in six years people will be talking about the WiiU2! Anything to piss off Bono.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I shudder to think about the size of the Wii U controller once Nintendo reveals the inevitable impact-resistant silicone skin that they'll be packing with it/shipping a few months after it is released because somebody flung the thing through a wall/their pet/their friend/sibling/parent/significant other.

[Chainsaw_Charlie]

A ho hum E3 nothing really excites me with the exception of the next Zelda

[The Shawn]

I shudder to think about the size of the Wii U controller once Nintendo reveals the inevitable impact-resistant silicone skin that they'll be packing with it/shipping a few months after it is released because somebody flung the thing through a wall/their pet/their friend/sibling/parent/significant other.

Somebody get's whacked with that beast and they're going to know it!

Second Nintendo console I have zero interest in. I can forsee the Wii's getting sold off for $30 at GS now, just like the cube a few years ago. I may pick one up then.

[Flashback2012]

Somebody get's whacked with that beast and they're going to know it!

Second Nintendo console I have zero interest in. I can forsee the Wii's getting sold off for $30 at GS now, just like the cube a few years ago. I may pick one up then.

The last time I checked, the trade-in value at GS on a regular Wii with all it's hook-ups was $15 in store credit. You got a whopping $20 store credit for the system if you had one that came packaged with the Wii Motion Plus controller. @_@

I haven't been closely following the E3 coverage in too much detail other than what's been posted on here and a few other forums. The controller for the Wii U looks neat. The only thing so far from the show that had my interest perked was the Vita (not a fan of the name even if it is Latin, for some reason the old Lucille Ball tonic skit springs to mind when I see the name Vita :drinking:). The pics of the Vanillaware games look good. I saw Vita footage of SF X Tekken and apparently Cole from Infamous is a playable character? Bleh.

[SamuraiSmurfette]

My impressions:

http://imgur.com/2XUWU.png

[Icarus Moonsight]

It's a regular controller with a touch screen. It's not going to need a nerf condom and it's not going to be slung around at the end of one arm like a trailer park baby.

Mad or happy, as long as you buy one it'll make Nintendo's penis harder.

[Bojay1997]

Well, I just spent the last three hours down at the LA Convention Center and after having seen and held the WiiU controller, I still have very serious doubts. First, while it may be about the same size as the PSP horizontally, it is definitely about twice as tall. It's also fairly thick, like launch PSP thick in places. I do have to say that it is lighter than I assumed it would be, but it ran much hotter. I'm assuming this will be addressed in future refinements before launch. Honestly, more than anything else, it reminds me of a UDraw tablet as it's just slightly smaller and it does some of the same things. The most telling image from the Nintendo booth was a small mock-up living room they had in one corner that had a small coffee table with the WiiU controller in the middle and a Wiimote on each side. It really does look like one of those nice universal remotes that people with high end home theaters tend to buy. In short spurts, I can imagine the kids playing with it. I can also imagine younger kids throwing it at each other or the TV or on the floor. While it was fairly light and seemed durable, I can imagine it getting banged up pretty quickly.

Other than that, Rayman Origins was odd. They were demoing it on 40" HD monitors and the Rayman character was really tiny. Like maybe an inch tall even when only one player was playing. Not sure if there is a way around it, but it really took me out of the action.

Sony used the same exact booth as last year with new games of course. The Vita was very nice, although I really couldn't tell the difference between PSP games and the newer games. I did like that it was lighter than even the third revision PSP likely because of the UMD mechanism being removed.

The most disappointing part of the show was that the niche publishers either avoided it completely or didn't have anything to show. Natsume was one of the few actually giving out printed catalogs, but everything in the booklet was already announced. The stuffed Alpaca they were giving out was really cool, but you had to spend time playing a particular game and I just couldn't do it this time. I believe they are giving them away with pre-orders on one of the new Harvest Moon games, so I suppose you can get it that way.

I didn't see Atlus at all, I'm not even sure if they were there. Ignition had a large booth in the corner behind Nintendo, but they already announced all their new releases and there were no surprises.

Curious to hear other stories of DPer's who went as I know I missed a lot of time specific giveaways and announcements as I was defintely in the speed mode.

[pixelsnpolygons]

Nice "speed mode" impressions, Bojay1997. Up until E3 2011 started I was actually upset I had to miss this one but it sounds like a pretty boring, uneventful E3 overall. The biggest thing I was interested in was the new Nintendo but it doesn't sound like seeing it in action would be worth the trip down. And that's not just based on your impressions - which back up a lot of my conerns. I've also noticed smaller publishers having less prominence with each new E3 I've attended. I didn't think it could get much worse - so your comments on them are pretty depressing.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Atlus was present. Watched a video with Mark from CGR talking to their PR guy. I want that giant Catherine display they were talking in front of...

[wyneGuyA1]

Ah SS did look good! Day 1 purchase! Didn't care for Zelda's design however.

Pikmin 3 has been confirmed to be in development for the WiiU at the private conference we plebians aren't privy too. I'd love it they could make the whole game in that clay style we often see Pikmin in.

I thought it was going to be for the wii. Looks like I will be spending money on the Wii U

[wyneGuyA1]

Ah SS did look good! Day 1 purchase! Didn't care for Zelda's design however.

Pikmin 3 has been confirmed to be in development for the WiiU at the private conference we plebians aren't privy too. I'd love it they could make the whole game in that clay style we often see Pikmin in.

I thought it was going for the wii. Looks like I will be spending money on the Wii U

[Bojay1997]

Atlus was present. Watched a video with Mark from CGR talking to their PR guy. I want that giant Catherine display they were talking in front of...

I just looked at the show directory and it appears they did have a private meeting suite which wasn't open to the general show attendees without an appointment. I believe this is what they did last year as well. Kind of a bummer as they used to have some neat swag from what I recall.

[swlovinist]

After slogging through all the info, presentations, and games showcased, I have to say that I was slightly disappointed with what was announced. I think that I am just getting to the age in which new game stuff just does not wow me anymore. Here are my very brief opinions

Microsoft
+Cool that MS is doing Halo 1 again and making more in the series
- A little worried that they are going to "Madden" the franschise and milk it for all its worth.
- Kinect stuff for me is total crap. I did not see one game that I cared about.

Sony
+Vita looks interesting. Not totally sold on it, but looks like a nice follow up to the PSP
-I bet the games are going to be expensive.

Nintendo
-Wii U was a total letdown, as a huge Nintendo Fan, I wanted something different.
-Tablet controller looks retarded.
-System is probably going to be expensive, who is the market?
-System does not even upscale Wii games? That sucks.
-Skyward sword still does not impress me. I want to play a zelda game with a standard controller
-3DS still does not impress me. Ill wait on this one for a serious price drop.
+the new mario game looks good. Just a little burnt on Mario games

[Swamperon]

I thought it was going for the wii. Looks like I will be spending money on the Wii U

It was originally, then got switched over to the WiiU. Let us hope it is not another Steel Diver.

[portnoyd]

I'm with swlovinist, minus the positive comment about Halo.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I think the best thing I experienced vicariously through net vids was Galaga 30th. So yeah, I'm a curmudgeon a bit too.

I want to know more about Wii U. I'd like it to be good, but I was the same way about 3DS a year ago and I don't really care about it now that it's out. Wii doesn't cut it anymore, and PS3/360 have games, but too many headaches. PSP is practically dead - Persona 2, Patapon 3, then what? And I still haven't picked up Radiant Historia and Okami-Den for DS... Harder to care these days. Yet I try.

[kupomogli]

PS Vita games may, or may not, be priced just like 3DS titles at $39.99.

http://www.vertigogaming.net/HUD/vitagameprice.jpg

[M.Buster2184]

Well based on what I saw this year: I'm excited for the Halo remake, kinda "meh" about Halo 4. Maybe Microsoft needs to let the series rest for a while. I think Uncharted 3 will be even better than Uncharted 2. Also not huge news but have to admit I'm kinda excited about Luigi's Mansion 2. :)

[BetaWolf47]

The best one I've heard today is that it sounds like a firetruck... Wii U Wii U Wii U Wii U. I cannot un-hear that.

Oh, dangit. Now I can't unhear it either :(

[WCP]

Here's my take:


Microsoft (C)

- Boring conference.
- Need to figure out a way to stop having Kinect games be on rails
- Where the heck is the new/interesting big IP games?
- No price drop/special bundle with Kinect?
- Halo 1 great in concept but graphical conversion looks weak
- Halo 4 is a pipe dream for 2012, I don't see it coming till 2013


Sony (B)

- Vita price blew me away
- Sly 4 looks cool
- Medieval Moves looks like the "best" on-rails motion game
- Where was Last Guardian or Agent ?
- Vita games look pretty darn good
- PS3 lineup was pretty typical, no big shockers


Nintendo (B)

- Damn, the Wii, I hardly knew ye....
- Did they show any Wii games at all ?
- Wii U is a dumb name. Quite a bit worse than Vita, and that's saying something
- Controller does look really amazing, but lots of ifs about it....
- Wii U in November 2012, yet they don't have any games running on the Wii U hardware?
- Wii U launch games will likely be rush jobs
- Nintendo's 3DS first party software does look pretty good

[substantial_snake]

I must of missed this but is Skyward Sword now only a Wii U title or are they going the Twilight Princess dual release route with it?

[Bojay1997]

I must of missed this but is Skyward Sword now only a Wii U title or are they going the Twilight Princess dual release route with it?

It's actually a Wii title and will be out this holiday season.