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Nintendo riding high after E3

by Mike Bantick

Sunday, 15 July 2007

In the E3 wash-up, at least as far as console hardware goes, the Nintendo company once again gave their rivals a run for their money. Meanwhile both Microsoft and Sony came away being outshone and with some issues to contend with.

If we ignore the software side for the moment, the biggest wow factor at this years scaled down Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) Media & Business summit was - once again - Nintendo.

In the other gamer camps, there were some wonderfully positive announcements for both Microsoft and Sony.

Microsoft for example concentrated on up coming software and online offerings now with Disney on-board providing content for Xbox Live Marketplace. Microsoft continue to sign up the much hyped titles such as Guitar Hero III, Rock Band, Assassins Creed, Gears of War(PC), Mass Effect and exclusive download content for Grand Theft Auto IV.

But with the acknowledgment that there may indeed be problems with the quality of Xbox 360 consoles on the market, (for which they expect to outlay $US1 billion to alleviate, as well as fighting off law suits ) and the lack of expected price reduction, there may be lean times ahead. The strong line-up of software will compensate somewhat. As will a sure to be soon price reduction.

Sony rode highs and dips of the E3 roller coaster. The biggest news was the US$100 price reduction for the PlayStation 3. This lead to an immediate spike in sales, but was tempered somewhat by the revelation that this was a US centric price cut.

In the PAL regions there will be bundling of the PS3 at the existing price. Still if you had your eye on a PS3, the bundling does represent good value. MotorStorm and Resistance: Fall of Man are the must have games, and two extra SIX AXIS controllers will not go astray.

Some (from within Sony ) acknowledged that this price drop was simply to move the 60GB PS3 model in preparation for the 80GB model to put the price back up to US$600.

There was the slimmer, TV-out enabled PSP shown, which should give the Sony hand-held device a boost, not enough to snag the phenomenal Nintendo DS though.

Software, though not as exclusive as originally expected, will be strong for Sony towards 2008. Exclusives shown at E3 included Heavenly Sword, Gran Turismo 5, LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2 and the now confirmed exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4.

But it was the Nintendo Wii that got the excitement ticks for hardware. Three new peripherals announced.

The Wii Zapper combines the Wii-mote and Nunchuck into one "gun" peripheral for, well, zapping the heads off zombies.

The Wii Wheel (packed with the upcoming Mario Kart) is, once again a housing for the Wii-mote into a steering wheel shaped controller, whilst it looks a little small for my liking it should be effective giving greater immersion than simply tilting the current controller.

Finally, the Wii Fit balance board will ensnare an even larger demographic for Nintendo. Giving people a game orientated way to explore balance, Yoga, light exercise and keeping track of Body Mass Index progress in one wireless peripheral will - albeit a focused target group - work.

This years E3 may have increased the lead Nintendo has on the chasers in the wow-factor league. Nintendo still has a software issue, commentary from North American Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aime giving us assurances about the amount of Wii and DS titles coming. We did get a release date for Super Mario Galaxy (Nov 12th)

Electronic Arts did also come good on its claim of shifting resources to the Wii with their list of up coming titles.

The battle for our electronic hearts, minds and cash is still raging strong.