May 21, 2001

E3 - End Game

2001's E3 has come and gone. So did it live up to the hype a show that unveiled TWO new consoles had going into it? Check out these NBrid members take on the show (alphabetically):

• BoneStormer
• Hybrid
• klamkilla

Past E3 Articles

• E3 Pre-Conference Summaries
• Hybrid's Pre-E3 Gamecube Statement

Let me start by saying I WAS NOT AT E3. So this is from the perspective of an 'outsider', and in which case E3 2001 just flat out 'sucked'. If you were there I'm sure it was great to play Halo or THPS3 or Smash Bros. Melee, but there was so little news that us outsiders just didn't care. Still, here is a quick run down of what stupid old me thought.

Nintendo, Nintendo, Nintendo... sigh. Games like Rogue Leader, Smash Bros. Melee, Star Fox Adventures (even though I have the same problem with Star Fox being an 'adventure' as I do with Metroid Prime being a 'FPA'), and even Pikmin looked and sounded great. You know I love you Nintendo. I'm not afraid to say I'm biased towards you bro, but come on. You basically told us JACK FREAKIN` SQUAT! Where was any online strategy? ("On our online strategy, until we feel it’s necessary and we find the right game to launch that part of the Gamecube, you probably won’t see anything," Leslie Short, NOC.) Where was the 3rd party support? Sure some came out with games, but even Capcom's RE0 which is known to be in the works was no where to be found. So little information, so many games missing, so much left unsaid. "Stay tuned for Space World." Thanks...

Microsoft, what happened? I thought Nintendo showed us little, but you even beat them. Worse yet what you did show was so disappointing. Sure Halo looks great, but otherwise all the games you showed can be played on another console or PC. There wasn't anything spectacular at all. I still have high hopes for you XBox, but you better have a few tricks up your sleeve to live up to the promise your system holds. You didn't even give concrete details on your online plans, well at least you realize how important being online could be this generation. Still the XBox is in trouble, BIG trouble. Then again, it was just a trade show...

I think Sony surprised me the most by making it THE system to own this fall. They have the best and biggest lineup of games this fall (which they should since they have a year head start), and it is all about the games after all is said and done. Silent Hill 2, THPS3, GT3: A-Spec, VF4, and Twisted Metal: Black are just a few of the games to get. Plus they also gave out info about their Modem/Ethernet package coming this November. Maybe PS2 can be the online force DC tried to become. They sure have the right partners in RealPlayer, Macromedia, Cisco, and AOL (remember AOL is bringing their 'content' to PS2 so it doesn't matter that the AOL dial-up service 'sucks', and also remember AOL owns the Netscape browser...). Still we are left with the question, after this year will PS2 still be THE system to own?

Most who were at E3 left saying how impressive Gamecube was, which bodes very well for Nintendo. Still, the fact all of these games had never been seen before helped Nintendo put out that 'wow' factor vibe. With GC priced at $200 compared to XBox's $300, with GC coming out 3 days before XBox, and with the GC having a better lineup of games than XBox (which is The Nintendo Difference;); I bet the line for GC's will be MUCH longer this November. Which is good news for all of us Nintendo fans:)

So what did we learn? We learned how dead the Dreamcast already is. We learned that the PS2 is finally coming into its own and showing why it's still the system to beat. We learned that Nintendo is still being secretive about Gamecube (at least we hope they're being secretive...). We learned even Microsoft can mess up with all the power they have in their hands with XBox. We learned PC's are still alive and kicking (Unreal 2, WarCraft III, and did you see Star Wars Galaxies? WOW!). And we learned this fall will be the greatest (surly the most competitive) ever for video game fans.

     -BoneStormer

Well E3 has passed, and now we have the task of taking in all this new information. But it wasn't everything we were expecting. Some thought Nintendo would show off Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and Wave Race on GameCube, and make some announcements on linking up with GameBoy Advance. We thought Xbox would show off all their 3rd party support with numerous playable games, and then talk about how superior their machine is to everything else. And on Sony's side, most people just wanted more information on MGS2 and GTA3. However, the results of this year's E3 are mixed.

Microsoft probably had the most pathetic showing at this year's E3 with only a few things worth mentioning. Halo looks great, but it being exclusive to Xbox doesn't mean much because it is also already on PC. Micro gets some points with having 4 online games at launch, and selling the system with a built in hard drive for only $300. To show you just how much of a deal this is, they are losing $125 on every Xbox sold. The Xbox controller feels about as uncomfortable as it looks, and the button layout doesn't seem logical. Why they didn't opt for an enhanced SideWinder controller is beyond me. Other than that, Jet Grind Radio Future is the only game so far that really interests me in Xbox.

Sony's showing was better than I thought it would be. A deal with AOL for their online strategy? Well anything is better than PlanetWeb...Playing Tony Hawk 3 online while AIM'n someone could be fun...when paused or between games. Konami shows off more of MGS2 but sadly, it gets pushed back to next year. GTA3 also looks cool and I'd like to see its transition into the 3d realm. Other notable games include FFX and Silent Hill 2. These 4 exclusive titles (the Xbox Metal Gear is a different game) coupled with AOL and confirming Tekken 4 (eh) and Soul Calibur 2 (woohoo) should be the strong force in this generation of PS2. These are the games that could have influenced me to preorder a PS2 way back last year.

Then there's Nintendo which overtakes the show almost dictatorlike. First, I should mention the dissapointments. Nintendo did not reveal some of the most important information we were looking for such as what is their current online strategy? How will GameCube link up with GBA? WHERE THE HELL IS MARIO? Sadly, we must wait another 3 months for Spaceworld for the answers of all these questions (including Zelda). I have a feeling that some info will trickle out before then. Also, not too many 3rd party announcements were made besides Sega, Acclaim, Kemco, EA, and Tecmo. This part isn't too big a deal because I already know THQ is making a new wrestling game for GC and that Infogrames is bringing a DBZ game to Gamecube and looks forward to utilizing GC to GBA technology. But I would have liked to see Namco officially confirm their plans to port Ridge Racer V and Tekken Tag for GameCube launch.

However, Sonic Team confirmed PSO ver. 2 for GameCube around launch. They also showed some marble madness type game called Monkey Ball in which you just control the platform you roll on. Nintendo of course showed off the most GameCube software and arguably the most ammount of stellar titles. Some have said that Eternal Darkness even looks better than MGS2...I'm not sure if I agree with that just yet. Also Raven Blade proves that Retro Studios at least knows what they are doing graphic wise. We don't get a new Mario title for GC launch, but we do get a Luigi one. I'm not sure what to think of this game. Basically you have to catch ghosts using different techniques with only a flashlight, vacuum and a hose type object. Star Fox Adventures: Dinosaur Planet will have to do for a platforming title at GC launch. The game already looks amazing, and it was not even running on full hardware. Definately my favorite game of E3 was Smash Brothers Melee. This is the sequel I've been waiting for for more than 2 years. Of course online play and more characters would be great, but we still have time for GC launch and the game isn't final..Other GC games shown include Rogue Leader, Wave Race: Blue Storm, a little bit of Metroid, and a lemmings type game made by Miyamoto himself called Pikmin. Nintendo showed that they are definately ready to compete in this generation with at least 50 games currently in development. Oh and as for that quirky controller, most people love it and others are even calling it perfect.

So if you are going to name a winner of this E3 based on surprising information, give it to Sony. If you're going to give it to the company that showed off the best games, give it to Nintendo. And if you're giving out honorable mention...

     -Hybrid

Well another E3 is behind us. Many people were calling this E3 the most important E3 ever. Whoever won this show would have a major push going into the upcomming console wars this fall. If that is the case, then no one is in a better position to corner the game market than Sony.

Now I know most of you are thinking, "Klam you're a Brid. Where's the Nintendo love?" It is there, but I feel that on this particular occasion Sony (and it's large staple of third party developers) stepped up and delivered us gamers the goods.

First we have the Sony/AOL deal. Even though I have refered to AOL as GayOL and AOHell, it does beat the hell out of PlanetWeb (which Sony was thinking of using). Plus AIM is pretty sweet. Also Sony has aquired the rights to a Netscape browser for PS2 which is really sweet.

Moving on to the games. Only one word to describe these... WOW. This is where Sony pulled head and shoulders above the competition (yes even Nintendo). We had some previously mentioned games on display like Metal Gear Solid 2, Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy X, and Resident Evil: Code Veronica. Also Sony won me over with HUGE anouncements like Tekken 4, Deus Ex, and SOUL CALIBUR 2! There are many others I have failed to mention here, but these are by far the most noteworthy.

Also another key to Sonys' success is the aquisition of sequels to great PC games comming to the PS2 BEFORE they hit the PC. Yes that's right all those Deus Ex fans will have to get a PS2 if they want to play the sequel first, same goes to those who are fans of the Thief series.

I have one thing to say about Nintendo though. It was a HUGE mistake for them to hold off until Space World to show Mario and Zelda. Two such games could have swayed the show in their favor.

Well I am sure Hybrid will fill you in on what happened at camp Nintendo so that about does it for me here. Oh and one more thing. Before you ask "What about XBOX," let me say this. Microsoft botched this BIG TIME. They have sparked no interest in me to go and spend $300 on that piece of crap. They ned to get their act together and FAST.

OK guys I am out of this mutha. See you all on IRC or online gaming.


     -klamkilla