Sunday, June 20, 2010
by Ben Silverman
Wii 2? Xbox 720? PS4? Sorry folks -- we're not getting brand new versions of the current crop of consoles any time soon. But while the next game revolution might be a few years off, the console war is about to heat up again as the big three release competing new tech in the months ahead.
How's it stacking up? We're glad you asked. Fresh off our firsthand experiences with the big three's upcoming new devices at the E3 2010 convention, here's a quick look at what to expect from the hardware soon to be tempting you on store shelves.
Microsoft Kinect
Release Date: November 4
Price: Unannounced
The motion-sensing machine formerly known as Project Natal enjoyed a massive presence at E3 2010. In addition to a number of Microsoft's own games, several third-party publishers unveiled Kinect titles due out later this year.
Pros:
The good news is that Kinect mostly works as advertised. Simply standing in front of the camera triggers a quick calibration period, and from there, it's hands-free controller bliss. Whether you're striking yoga poses, driving a car with an imaginary wheel or busting out sweet dance moves, the system is up to the task. Coolest of all? Navigating menus with a flick of the wrist and controlling movie playback with your voice alone. "Xbox, pause!" Awesome.
Cons:
Despite the impressive technology under its hood, Kinetic doesn't always flawlessly copy your movement. We noticed a slight lag while playing several Kinect titles, just enough to temporarily suspend the sense of immersion. It's no dealbreaker, but we're hoping Microsoft spend the next few months ironing out the lag kinks.
Then there's the pricing issue. It's a bit unusual for a company to announce a firm release date for a new piece of hardware while withholding its price, but that's exactly how Microsoft played its hand at E3. Rumors of a $150 price tag could push this out of the comfort zone of its target family demographic. And while that demographic will undoubtedly be pleased with Kinetic's casual game lineup, the more hardcore gamers -- also the ones more willing to plunk down money on fancy new tech -- might be a little miffed at the lack of variety.
Top games:
Dance Central
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved
Kinectimals
Child of Eden
Playstation Move
Release date: September 19
Price: $49.99 - $99.99
Though plenty was already known about Sony's motion-sensing system, E3 2010 provided a venue for thousands to get their hands on the hardware and loads of games. Providing notably better accuracy than the Nintendo Wii remote, the Move hopes to lure in gamers growing tired of the Wii's limited technical capabilities.
Pros:
Give credit where credit is due: the Move is indeed far better at following your motions than the Wii remote. The tracking is tight and responsive, closer to the 1:1 dream consumers initially expected from Nintendo. Combined with the Playstation Eye camera, this allows for some unique applications like Eyepet, which places a cuddly virtual creature in the middle of the living room and turns your controller into a variety of pet rearing tools.
But Sony also went out of its way to show Move support in more robust titles, such as upcoming firefight SOCOM 4, light gun game Time Crisis: Razing Storm, golf king Tiger Woods 11 and recent adventure hit Heavy Rain. We're not sure Move will make traditional games better, but we're certainly glad Sony's giving it a shot.
Cons:
Yes, it's more accurate. Yes, it's more colorful. And yes, the camera opens up new possibilities. But no matter how hard Sony tried to make Move out to be a game changer at E3, we couldn't waggle away the feeling that they're just chasing Nintendo rather than blazing their own path. Until we see a Move game that truly pops off the screen, this feels more like a "could have" accessory than a "must-have" purchase.
Speaking of which, Sony's smoke and mirror act regarding the pricing isn’t helping. You can buy the motion-sensing wand for $49.99, but that's only useful if you already happen to own the Playstation Eye camera. If not, you'll need one of those, too ($39.99). Then there's the "navigator" (think Wii nunchuck), which costs an extra $29.99. Alternately, you can buy a bundle that includes one wand, the Playstation Eye and Sports Champions for $99.99. Confusing? You betcha, and that's not the word you want associated with the launch of your new hardware.
Top games:
Sorcery
SOCOM 4
Eyepet
Sports Champions
Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: Early 2011
Price: Unannounced
Nintendo turned E3 2010 into a coming out party for its ambitious 3DS portable, and what a party it was. The 3D-enabled handheld wowed showgoers with its amazing visuals, stealing the thunder from Microsoft and Sony's motion-sensing devices.
Pros:
All the 3D, none of the glasses! Or cost, really. While Sony showed off visually stunning but financially troubling games requiring 3D televisions and special specs, Nintendo blew everyone away with a flick of a switch. We tinkered with a few games and films during our brief hands on time with the prototype unit at E3, and suffice to say, the 3D effect works like a charm.
The system is more than just 3D, however. It's got all the features of the DSi -- Wifi, touch screen, clamshell design -- but throws in a few nice new ones, including an analog stick, a wider top screen running at 800 x 240 resolution, a front facing camera and cool dual outside cameras to allow for 3D picture taking.
Cons:
How many DS machines is too many DS machines? While the 3DS is designed from the ground up to play new 3D titles, it also plays the entire DS library. Of course, you might have just bought a DSi XL. Or a standard DSi. Or a DS Lite. Demand for new handhelds isn’t as great as demand for a new, HD-enabled Wii, yet this is where Nintendo has chosen to focus its attention.
We're also curious as to how, exactly, Nintendo plans on distributing 3D movies. Sony had loads of problems convincing consumers to buy UMD-based flicks for the PSP, and we'd expect the same pushback from 3DS owners if they're asked to purchase movies on cartridge. Presumably they'll just add movies to the DSiWare digital store, but until we learn more about the 3DS' storage capabilities, consider us skeptical.
Top games:
Kid Icarus Uprising
Pilotwings
Star Fox
Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater
Labels: