E3 2010 was (in my humble opinion) a craptacular event with some highlights - but overall completely flat. We watched Microsoft fall flat on its face with Kinect (although the OS interfacing stuff is damn cool - just not $150 U.S. cool) and Sony follow up with some actual credible motion-controller games. It was always stated that software would be the guiding factor of success for either - and I'd have to say that Sony took this round. Some still claim that Kinect hasn't yet realised its potential - perhaps...but then, will it ever at the price being suggested? Microsoft has got its business model completely wrong this time around and I think Redmond is missing the brilliant guidance of Billy Gates more than its prepared to admit.
However, it wasn't all rubbish - for the first time ever, I'm actually interested in a Halo title (Halo Reach) and Sony pulled a Laurel&Hardy double-take by having once 360-sweetheart Gabe Newell show up on stage to announce Portal 2 for the PS3 (cue Xbox execs clenching fists: "BUELLER!!!")
Ubisoft also stole the show with a very impressive Assassin's Creed Brotherhood (already the GOTY candidate imo) and Nintendo...well...we hate Nintendo.
The interesting thing, of course, is that no one apart from the delusional minds at OnLive were announcing anything in the way of new consoles although its pretty much a categoric reality that both Sony and Microsoft are busy whittling away at their new offerings. While PS3 has the longevity to push its shelf-life well into 2015, Sony knows that they will need the insurance to spar off against the impending '720' (I still stand by a 2012 debut worldwide) and the announcement for that device will be at next year's E3.
So should Sony be worried - not really. They've got a hidef format that has enjoyed record-breaking market penetration and Microsoft will likely not ever adopt it apart from movie playback - instead, I suspect 720 games will emerge as USB 3.0 key-based or SDXC caddy-cased offerings that have all the speed of BluRay (much faster in fact) but none of the drawbacks such as moving parts or lasers. I may be giving Microsoft too much credit here - and perhaps they should hire me to get back on top ;) - but such a move makes sense as eliminating the need for moving parts from your base console (the BluRay drive would actually make sense as an add-on) drastically reduces manufacturing costs and increases reliability. It also allows for a much smaller and compact unit which suits the form-factor of contemporary Home Theatre designs. Furthermore, a key-based game delivery makes capacity irrelevant as you simply pack in as much memory into the key as you need.
Sony - on the other hand - has no desire to phase out BluRay and will support it 110% on the PS4. The advantage that Sony has is that they don't need to design a new console per se - just 'tweak' their existing console. Everything on the PS3 makes sense apart from some key bottlenecks and architecture 'wtf' areas that, with a bit of ironing out and a boosted CPU/GPU core, could really rock the next gen and for a fraction of the R&D costs meaning that the PS4 can enter the market at a similar price-point as the 720 despite having moving parts and lasers included.
The big question is 'who will flinch first' and I suspect Microsoft will as they seek to capitalise on the tactic that worked the first time. Sony, on the other hand, is still under a lot of pressure to rake in more profit on its PS3 project before it undermines it with a new console. Despite bells and whistles and moments of 'Woohoo, we're taking over!!!' - the PS3 still sits squarely in third-place against the Wii and 360 largely due to its top-end price-point - never a good place to be in a recession. (...and begs the question to Microsoft about Kinect pricing - wtf are you thinking???)
So on to 3D - because that's the BIG future, right?
No. I doubt it.
3D TV and gaming is like the new kid in class - at first, you think he's awesome because he's different. Everyone wants to be his friend and invite him to their birthday parties - but after six months, he's banned to the dark corners of the AV club once it comes to light that he hides a Strawberry Shortcake doll in his backpack and still sucks his thumb when (he thinks) no one's looking.
Having seen Avatar in 3D (great visuals, crap story) - I know what it can offer and I've also seen a live demo on Samsungs new 42" 3D offering. Hey, sure - it's pretty neat - but only in small doses. Also, paying attention to the news, we now see Paediatricians lining up to warn parents off allowing their children (6 and under) to be within smelling distance of a 3D display - so that really lops off a giant part of the market as most teenagers often have younger siblings in the area; and they like to copy their elder brothers and sisters, hang around them and generally be very annoying meaning that everything in the household has to be safe for everyone including the snivelling 5-year-old who knows the first five maps of COD4 inside (Until governments start enforcing ESRB/PEGI ratings, you know this is a reality)
But parents DO pay attention to Mr. Mackey-style alarmist news like '3D is bad for kids, ummkay??!' and so this means a virtual write-off for the 3D capabilities of the family console.
So where does that lead us? Surely (hopefully) back to gaming. Luckily, with more details leaking about Mafia II, L.A. Noire and (joygasm) Deus Ex: Human Revolution - the future of consoles will undoubtedly reside in the ability of machines to render gorgeous titles built on wonderful, vast worlds. This alone will continue to drive specs forward. The question is what the next move will be.
Lovingly Yours,
The Angry Rabbit.
