While Nintendo press conference was a bit more sedate than Microsoft there still was a few announcements that had caught my eye.
So without further ado here is my top 3 announcements from the Nintendo press conference.
3. GTA on DS
Now this was the only game that came as a shock to me because nobody would of thought that GTA would be making an appearance on the DS well Nintendo decided to surprise us by announcing that a DS exclusive version of GTA4 (of sorts) will be hit the handheld sometime in the early future.
While the obvious choice would of been the PSP this is another string in the Nintendo bow and it shows that the DS isn’t just for kids or people over the age of 60 it still is a place for the hardcore gamer as well.
2. Wii Motion Plus
Everybody knew about this so it wasn’t that much of a secret but it was still nice for it to be seen and to also show off what it can do.
This little white block that fit’s to the bottom of the Wiimote makes the motion sensing a lot more better thus giving you the freedom to move around in 3d space instead of limiting you to slight movements with your hand that will on make a basic reaction on screen.
Coming packaged with the motion plus will be Wii sports 2 that will take the foundation of the original game and build upon it by adding more fun sports games to it and also by making the motion sensing that much more realistic.
1. Animal Crossing
Now another thing that people guessed was a new Animal Crossing game for the Wii and the rumors were correct.
The game is set to take the animal crossing formula of building your own town out into the city as well give you a much more free chance to visit your friends town while also adding extra new features to your experience.
Not only was there the chance to bid in auctions for new items, buy brand new clothes and furniture, get a new hairstyle or just walk around town with your friends but now you will be able to speak to them with a new little handy speaker that clips on the Wii motion sensor bar and it gives you a chance to fully speak with your friends instead of having to send them messages.
While Nintendo’s press conference didn’t show off that many games we do know that Nintendo are still trying to push the envelope when it comes to new ways to play.
Check back later for the top 3 announcements at the Sony press conference.
So E3 is just around the corner so what do we expect to see at each one of the big 3’s press conference, well below is my guess at what i think they might show.
Nintendo
Since the last year Nintendo has shocked the gaming world with how well the Wii has done however of the 3 Nintendo is the hardest to predict as they like to keep there cards to there chest but i’m going to give it a try and predict what i think they might say and show.
1 - We know that Nintendo plan to show a big mystery game off at E3 but we don’t know what it will be and i think it could be a new Zelda game.
2 - There is a chance that another version of the DS will be shown as there have been hints but Nintendo have ruled it out but you never know.
3 - Could they throw a spanner in the works by showing off a new home system this early in the lifespan of the Wii.
4 - People have been crying out for a hard drive for the Wii and i think they would be silly if they did’nt announce one.
5 - As you can expect they will also show off a lot of games whether it be for the Wii, DS or Wiiware and we might even have a few more companies announced to be releasing more classic games for the virtual console.
6 - Finally i predict that there might be some new Wii channels announced but in what form they might take that is what i’m unsure about.
Microsoft
Out of the 3 last year Microsoft had the worst press conference as they only showed games that were coming out over the 6 months leading up to the christmas rush so what can they do this year to make up for the lack luster approach of last years.
1 - The obvious place to start is a blu-ray add on for the 360, Now we know that they have said there will not be one but they way blu-ray has been going over the last 6 months since they won the format wars Microsoft would be really stupid if they did’nt hint at one.
2 - Could a new home console be shown as Microsoft were first out of the door with there next gen console and they could beat the other two to the punch again with there next console.
3 - Rumors that they have been working on a handheld has been going around for a long time so is it time to own up and finally show us that they are going to be making one.
4 - Every year since the 360 came out they have announced a new scu so it might be a dead cert that they announce a new one with the fingers pointing to a 60GB model.
5 - We know a lot of games will be shown off with Gears 2, Fable etc being a dead cert but do they have a secret few games up there sleves that nobody knows about.
6 - More new features will surely be shown off but in what form and what can we expect with rumors hinting that there could be a little bit of a redesign of the dashboard.
7 - Finally going around the internet lately have been talk about a motion controller for Microsoft that will be better than the Wii’s so could this rumor be true.
Sony
It hasn’t been a good year for the once rulers of the console war but over the next year could see a big change in fortune with Sony as they now have started to find there feet and they have start to pull back some ground for the other two but what can we expect from them.
1 - Home should be shown off agin but this time hopfully in it’s final for with a concrete release date finally announced.
2 - Another redesign of the PSP could be on the cards as there handheld has been failing quicker than there home console and it needs something big to bring it back from the brink of the gaming abyss.
3 - We know Sony will show off Resistance 2, Motorstorm 2 and Killzone 2 but what other new games do they have up there sleves and could we finally see the next gen reborn of Jak and Daxter.
4 - New features are bound to come out for the Ps3 but in what form and will we see a bit more of a simple aproach to things from them.
5 - Sony have announced that they plan to have a movie service for the PS3 like the 360 but how is this service going to work and how much will movies cost well we know that they will have something to say on that matter.
6 - A price cut seems to be on the cards for them again but how much will be cut off and when can we expect this to happen should also be announced at there press conference.
Well thats it those are my predictions as what we might expect to hear from the big 3 at there press confernece at E3 next week.
The times and dates for each press conference are as follows:- Microsoft - Monday 14th July 5:30pm Nintendo - Tuesday 15th July 4:00pm Sony - Tuesday 15th July 6:30pm
We will have each press conference on here as soon as we can but if you wnat to watch them live go over to Gamespot.com as they will be streaming each one of the 3 live.
It seems somebody has made a little mistake by saying that Rock Band 2 will not hit our shores this year instead it will come out in November only in America and will also grace the 360 first and will eventually come out on the other systems.
A spokesperson from EA said that “There was a misunderstanding and there is no confirmed date for Europe.”
With Guitar Hero 4 out this year over here it would of been silly of EA to go up against it but it is EA and I’m surprised they haven’t gone up against Activision this time.
As soon as we get a release date for Rock Band 2 i will let you know.
Well here is the first trailer for Call of Duty World at War and i do have to say that Treyarch are sticking to there word when they say that it will be the most brutal of the Call of Duty, but don’t take my word for it check out the trailer and tell me what you think.
Oh Rock Band how you tease us with all of those new tracks and cocky Americans laughing at us because they have had the game since late last year well it’s finally time for us to get a bit of this gorgeous cherry.
The date we have to look out for is as early as May 23rd (yes that early) however we don’t have a price yet but EA might announce that today at a press event they are holding.
Just to make things a little more sweeter we get a few tracks those Americans didn’t get plus all 70 downloadable songs that are available via the US marketplace will also be available from day one with EA also stating that from May 27th all songs will be available on both American and UK marketplace.
So i guess it is now time to go and preorder yourself a copy and take out a bank loan just in-case, plus i also think it’s best if you clear a lot of room as there is enough kit to take up a full spare room.
Update - the price has just been released and cop a hold of this
Instruments (Drums, Guitar and Microphone) = £129.99
Game = £49.99 (everywhere will sell it at £39.99)
Total = £179.98 (£169.98 hopfully)
Grand Total = A shit load of money
Thanks very much EA for bleeding us dry
Update 2 - If you head over to the nice people at Play.com you will be able to get the instruments at £99.99 (saving 23%) and the game at £39.99 (saving 20%).
you will also be able to buy the drums and the guitar on there own with the drums costing you £69.99 and the guitar £59.99.
So thanks to Play.com it is’nt going to be that bad in the end.
As soon as i get pricing information from Game.com and Gamestation i will let you know.
Just in case you don’t know about this site head on over to the lolocaust as it’s one of the best sites out there on the Internet and it has a fantastic forum.
the site can be found here and don’t forget to tell everybody about it.
A quick piece of news here but it seem’s that the big videogames magazine in japan Famitsu has said that Resident Evil 0 will be heading to the Wii sometime this year.
Now this is just a rumor and it’s unknown if this will just be a port of the Gamecube or if this will be a remake like they did with the original Resident Evil.
As soon as more info is released we will let you know.
A quick piece of news here that will be bad news to those that are waiting for Manhunt 2 over on our shores.
The game will not see the light of day as the High court has overturned the decision the appeals committee made late last year.
The appeals committee decided to over turn the BBFC decision and say that the game can be released however the BBFC went into a strop like a five year old kid and went to the high court, well it now seems that the babies got there own way by stopping the game from getting released over here.
If anymore news happens on Manhunt 2 we will let you know
Atari has finally decided to set a release date for there upcoming Alone in the Dark and it’s much closer than thought.
The game is set to scare us sometime in May on the 360, Wii, PS2 and PC however the release date for the PS3 version has’nt been set yet.
The game is set around Central Park and will be split into episode chapters that will see players surviving over each on of the chapters.
It was also rumored that the Wii version would be different however it will still have the same layout as the 360 and PC version but it will not have the same graphics power behind like the 360 and PC versions.
As soon as i get my hands on a copy i’ll post up a review for it so keep a look out for that.