Eurogamer's Best of E3 2009

By Oli Welsh Published 8 June, 2009

Game of the Show, Best Tech, Best Publisher, more.

It was a vintage year. The videogame industry shrugged off recession and put two years of directionless caution behind it last week, staging a confident showcase in Los Angeles that showed the rest of the entertainment world who was boss without overdoing the tacky excess. A ton of news (some of which hadn't even leaked), a little controversy, a lot of showmanship, some scarily futuristic new technology - and, best of all, plenty of first looks at exciting games that are actually coming out in the next six months.

Below you'll find our picks of E3 2009. First, Game of the Show: our top ten with an overall winner, not segregated by genre or platform. To be eligible, games had to be present at E3 in the form of actual working code, whether it was playable on the show floor or a live demo behind closed doors. Game of the Show is a measure of quality, of course, but it's about raw excitement too, so you'll find more recently announced games than known quantities in the shortlist.

There are four more major categories. Best Technology is open to both software and hardware, and intended to be a showcase of the most exciting prospects for the future. Best Publisher could be a platform holder or a third-party - whoever brought the broadest, strongest and most innovative line-up to LA. Best Game Announcement highlights the headlines that hit the hardest, and the games we can't wait to find out more about. And because E3 is all about the media, Best Video showcases the official movie releases - whether CGI trailers or in-game footage - that really got our bits streaming.

Finally, you'll find a few more categories as a footnote, just for fun. Best trade show of recent years? Without a doubt.

Game of the Show

'Eurogamer's Best of E3 2009' Screenshot 1

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

There were far prettier and more ambitious games at E3 2009 than New Super Mario Bros Wii; there were bigger surprises, more hotly-anticipated sequels and more attention-grabbing showboats. But Nintendo's multiplayer reworking of the game that created an industry rocked our show for three important reasons.

First, it came out of nowhere, fully-fledged and playable by everybody in a huge ten-level demo on the show floor. While its rivals spun hard, Nintendo quietly put its money where its mouth was, letting the mobs descend on an apparently feature-complete and totally robust game and have their way with it. Only Forza Motorsport 3 could match those guts, and even its showing was slender by comparison.

Second, it was simply the most fun we had playing games all week. New Super Mario Bros Wii had us giggling with glee as soon as the show opened: perfect multiplayer dynamics that blend co-op and competition, seated in a platform-game template that hasn't been bettered in 20 years. Bliss.

And finally, if there was a bum note at E3 2009, it was the yawning divide in most publisher's line-ups between "casual" and "core" "products", the sense that videogaming is being torn in two. That's a divide Nintendo helped to create - but New Super Mario Bros Wii can heal it. Classic and modern, simple and social, nostalgic and friendly, this really is "everyone's game". It takes us back to a time when demographics meant nothing, and all of this was just fields of fun. It's uplifting.

Honourable Mentions

'Eurogamer's Best of E3 2009' Screenshot 2

DJ Hero: Music games are stagnating almost as fast as they grew, and even a lavish tribute to the best band ever isn't going to stop that. But DJ Hero just might. Just as turntablists reinvented our relationship with pop in the hip-hop and dance revolutions of the eighties and nineties, DJ Hero changes the music game: more creative freedom, more input from the artists, closer to the real thing.

Forza Motorsport 3: We knew it was coming, but Forza 3 is still a pretty sizeable rabbit for Microsoft to pull out of its hat, and it's out as soon as October. A full-service racing experience for the man who has everything (except Gran Turismo 5, still), it's also one of the best prospects for community gaming on a console.

God of War III: The PS2's swansong is the last major series to arrive on this generation too, and it met fever-pitch expectations with a spectacularly confident playable demo that caused the longest queues on the show floor. Not subtle, but Sony doesn't need subtlety to sell PS3s. It needs Kratos.

Left 4 Dead 2: One of the more controversial games of the show, and not because it's set in a disaster-struck New Orleans. Should Valve have released this as an expansion pack to avoid splitting its audience? Maybe, but that doesn't dim the immediate appeal of another huge slice of the definitive co-op shooter.

'Eurogamer's Best of E3 2009' Screenshot 3

Modern Warfare 2: It must suck to be a shooter developer that's not Infinity Ward. This year's biggest sequel even humbled a new Halo, and Epic's Mark Rein could only call it "insanely good". Raw shock and awe at an incredible-looking 60fps, and the definition of a developer hot streak. It will sell by the megaton.

ModNation Racers: Ugly duckling of the show was this unheralded create-your-own karting game from Sony; here's hoping it will grow into a beautiful, user-generated swan. It might lack charm, but gets plenty of points for realising what LittleBigPlanet did wrong, not just copying what it did right.

Splinter Cell: Conviction: Ubisoft's revamped spy thriller out-guns Bourne and New Bond in the seedy brutality stakes - what is it about violence in toilets? - as well as employing some stunning, daring cinematic presentation. But it's the apparent ease, flexibility and empowerment of the infiltration that really impressed. Stealth can be fun!

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Everyone saw, and cheered, the lavish new cinematic. Not everyone saw the behind-closed doors demonstration of the MMO running on live servers and looking astonishingly slick and dynamic, with fast-paced action-RPG combat packed with wish-fulfilment possibilities.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves: You can't argue with an honest-to-goodness gasp from a press-conference audience. When that's not generated by a new announcement or CGI trailer, but by a game running live, you really can't argue with it. One mountain vista was enough to wow E3 and make Uncharted 2 look like the next step for action games.

Best Technology

Milo & Kate

The clamour to call Milo a fake when no-one ever claimed he was real - Molyneux himself admitting to "tricks" - proves just how hair-raising, how unsettling Microsoft and Lionhead's achievement is. It has the smell of witchcraft about it, and even the unflappable Ellie was spooked when she saw it in person.

Milo was the hands-down sensation of E3, but that's not the only reason it takes the Best Technology award. It was the synthesis of Lionhead's AI experiments with Microsoft's technically amazing and surprisingly functional Project Natal hands-free interface to create something genuinely new - not just a demo resembling a flavour-of-the-mass-market Wii game - that attracted our attention, not to mention Steven Spielberg's. Usually the conservative follower of trends, it was Microsoft who took the boldest step into the future this E3.

Honourable Mentions

Sony's motion controller was less radical than Microsoft's, had only the sketchiest demos, and wasn't available for anyone to try - but it did look great fun to use, and arguably had much more realistic gaming applications than Natal.

Conversely, PSPgo was there and wasn't all that thrilling in the flesh, but it's a major conceptual leap - by ditching UMD and creating a dedicated gaming console for which no software is sold in the shops, Sony ought to stir the market up if nothing else.

Best Publisher

'Eurogamer's Best of E3 2009' Screenshot 4

Sony Computer Entertainment

No other publisher - first- or third-party - could begin to match the sheer breadth and depth of Sony's E3 offering this year. Blockbuster sequels with gob-smacking production values (God of War III, Uncharted 2); innovative online games (MAG, The Agency); stylistically bold experiments in new IP (Heavy Rain, The Last Guardian); great, exclusive downloadable games (PixelJunk Shooter, Fat Princess); new forms of entertainment for new markets (EyePet, ModNation Racers). Sony had it all, and its vast stand was further studded with unexpected gems like the lovely LittleBigPlanet PSP, or more Ratchet & Clank. Quantity and quality in abundance, but it was the sheer variety that amazed.

Honourable Mentions

In big-picture terms, Electronic Arts was the only publisher who could hold a candle to Sony's line-up. Peter Moore continues to take EA Sports in interesting new directions, EA Partners made some hot signings (Crysis 2, APB) and the likes of Mass Effect 2, Need for Speed Shift and Brutal Legend all looked quite tidy. But EA was lacking standout games with sex appeal.

That's not something you could say of Activision, which won 2009 at a stroke with Modern Warfare 2 and DJ Hero. Everyone else might as well go home - including the rest of Activision's own mediocre line-up, apart perhaps from the likeable Blur.

Best Game Announcement

Final Fantasy XIV Online

It might not have been as exclusive as Sony wanted us to believe, but Square Enix's next MMO still caused the biggest splash of any announcement of the show. Revealing it - complete with an unbelievable 2010 release date - before FFXIII has even seen the light of day in Japan was a bold move and a half. Could this be the first MMO sequel to beat its predecessor's success? With the Final Fantasy brand, we wouldn't bet against it.

Honourable Mentions

Team Ico's gorgeous The Last Guardian would have stolen the show if it hadn't stolen its own thunder with a pre-show leak. The Agent was exciting because it's an all-new Rockstar North game, Crackdown 2 was exciting because it's more Crackdown, and Miyamoto gets nonchalance points for slipping a new Wii Zelda under the radar in that unassuming way of his.

Best Video

The Beatles: Rock Band intro

It was literally the first moment of E3 - opening Microsoft's Monday-morning conference before anyone stepped on the stage - and visually, it remains the best. An evocative animated summary of a great band, maybe it doesn't have much to do with gaming - but then again, gaming has something to do with everything these days, and gaming aesthetics and presentation are no longer a poor cousin.

Honourable Mentions

You could say all the same things of BioWare's stunning cinematic promoting Star Wars: The Old Republic - the most talked-about trailer at the show, and some of the best Star Wars entertainment of any kind in years. Once again, The Last Guardian might have won if it hadn't been spoiled, while Splinter Cell: Conviction released the most compelling live gameplay footage, and Modern Warfare 2 did in-engine cinematics to profoundly exciting effect.

And Finally

Best Quote: "Yeah, you want to get information, but maybe you don't want to get raped!" David Cage pushes sexual politics in videogames to the limit with a queasy Heavy Rain demonstration. Did he have to breathe so heavily into the mic?

Best Party: Activision's bash for DJ Hero, featuring live performances from Jay-Z (phenomenal) and Eminem (weak), as well as the legendary Warren G and DJ AM. Kelly Osbourne was spotted, as well as some actually famous people, including Leo DiCaprio.

Most Half-Hearted Celebrity Appearance: The Beatles, for their disgraceful, embarrassed and embarrassing mugging at the Microsoft conference. "The game is great. The graphics are great. We were great," said Ringo like he was reading a shopping list. If you hate videogames so much, why did you make one then?

'Eurogamer's Best of E3 2009' Screenshot 7

The "Let's Chill Here on the Deck" Kaz Hirai Memorial Award for excellence in strained banter: After a long run at the top of excruciatingly scripted press-conference shame, Sony slipped up this year and let Nintendo steal its crown with a masterpiece of false, unfunny bonhomie: Reggie and Bill Trinen's horrible basketball interlude. "I hope you shoot baskets better than you shoot arrows!" I hope you shoot yourself.

Best Special Move: In the new Dead to Rights, you can assume control of your faithful police dog Shadow and employ a special finishing move that ends the life of miscreants by biting their balls off. "We call this the Testikill."

The Stuck in a Golden Rut Award for being shackled to a successful franchise: Tie! After years of ever saying never, Hideo Kojima just gave up pretending and announced three - count them! one, two, three - new Metal Gear Solid games. But we couldn't let Bungie go without a mention too. So Halo 3 is the end of a trilogy then? Is it? Is it really?

Compiled from conversations with Ellie, Tom, and the rest of the Eurogamer staff. Special thanks to Christian Donlan for his contribution to this article, and to all of Eurogamer's E3 coverage.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (184) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • KevvyMetal79 #1 3 years ago

    First lol. :p

  • Physically_Insane #2 3 years ago

    Jesus, EG's lost it. Seriously, Mario!?
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 15:43

  • Spydy #3 3 years ago

    No Scribblenauts? Ouch.

  • DUFFKING #4 3 years ago

    Was going to mention a lack of Scribblenauts. How the hell can you miss that out.

  • cyacomini #5 3 years ago

    Ok so I got to the first entry then refused to read any more.

    New Super Mario Bros. Wii - Game of the show??

  • liverpoolfc #6 3 years ago

    New super mario bros

    No way
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 15:45

  • Freek #7 3 years ago

    Best technology award for something you explain in the article isn't actually real? Odd choice.

  • Eraysor #8 3 years ago

    What a dire selection.

  • Dave52 #9 3 years ago

    Have to agree with Freek, you can't give best technology award to an AI that is a scripted demo...

    Good article though, great read - thanks.

  • CunningLinguist #10 3 years ago

    I for one noticed that despite my initial doubtful reaction to EG reviews and impressions, in the long run I tend to agree with them. Yes inFamous is a 7, MGS 4 an 8 and Bioshock an 11/10. So who knows, maybe this new Mario will be great.
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 15:48

  • Yossarian #11 3 years ago

    What a bizarre, bizarre game of the show.

    Also agree on missing Scribblenauts.

    No mention of Alan Wake.

    Otherwise good.

  • stevetuck #12 3 years ago

    Opinons differ between various people, learn to live with it

  • rhubarbandcustard #13 3 years ago

    Eurogamer are known for having, shall we say, a quirky stance on videogames. And one that is at odds with the other major gaming web sites.

    Choosing yet another bloody Mario platformer as game of the show is a shocker.

    Repeat after me, Eurogamer:

    The wii is shite, and Mario is a racist Japanese caricature of an Italian male...
    The wii is shite, and Mario is a racist Japanese caricature of an Italian male...
    The wii is shite, and Mario is a racist Japanese caricature of an Italian male...
    The wii is shite, and Mario is a racist Japanese caricature of an Italian male...
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 15:52

  • Xerx3s #14 3 years ago

    What a selection of weird choices.

  • Freek #15 3 years ago

    But what is the comments sections for if not to give your personal opinion on the article? As long as it's expressed polity.

  • SleepyDeathFred #16 3 years ago

    So... Arkham Asylum not looking good then?

  • smoothpete #17 3 years ago

    Mario. For god's sake, when will the plumbing bastard just DIE.

  • Fixxxer #18 3 years ago

    No, repeat after me:

    Mario platformers are consistently hailed as being among the greatest games of all time
    Mario platformers are consistently hailed as being among the greatest games of all time
    Mario platformers are consistently hailed as being among the greatest games of all time
    Mario platformers are consistently hailed as being among the greatest games of all time
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 15:55

  • Domovoi #19 3 years ago

    NSMB was one of the funner surprises of the show, but I can't really see it bridge that gap between hardcore/traditional and casual.

    Lack of scribblenauts is unforgivable.

  • SleepyDeathFred #20 3 years ago

    @ Fixxxer But surely it would be nice to get something actually new for once?

  • spekkeh #21 3 years ago

    lol@butthurt fanboys.

  • AgentCool #22 3 years ago

    New Super Mario Bros' Wii was probably the most yawnworthy announcement of the whole show. It'll probably be a decent game but it's certainly nothing to wet your pants about.

  • DrDamn #23 3 years ago

    Agreed on Milo being a bad choice for best tech. Project Natal itself yes fine, but with the 'tricks' and staged elements of Milo in particular it's an odd choice.

  • Quint2020 #24 3 years ago

    Mario?? Bloody hell you've got to be joking...

  • teabagger #25 3 years ago

    Strong showing on both 360 and PS3 platforms this year. Particularly keen on the Sony motion control stuff. Now, if only someone would combine it with that psuedo-3D thing done with by head tracking with the EyeToy camera that would be marvellous.

  • Domovoi #26 3 years ago

    I love how everybody calls Milo 'staged', when they have no proof that it's fake or real. Oh, except that it apparently also worked as advertised when Ellie played with it. Maybe Eurogamer reporters were part of the script too?

  • stevetuck #27 3 years ago

    Yes the comments section is for voicing your opinion on the article...

    But how many of the people making the negative comments about a game (seemingly mario) were even at E3 playing the games?

  • cyacomini #28 3 years ago

    no mention of Assassins Creed 2 at all?

    It's looking f*cking sweet if you ask me!
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 16:02

  • Oli Verified Reviews Editor, Eurogamer.net #29 3 years ago

    We considered Scribblenauts along with Batman: Arkham Asylum, but we've covered both some time before E3 and didn't see anything that new from them at the show. We were looking for more "newness" from the Games of the Show, as explained in the intro.

  • Physically_Insane #30 3 years ago

    @Domovoi

    Actually a lot of games journalists have said that it's very scripted. You've got to do to the same routine in the trailer or it doesn't work.

  • SleepyDeathFred #31 3 years ago

    Cheers Oli.

  • Yossarian #32 3 years ago

    The lack of online in NSMB is just baffling to me. I was joking with a friend that it wouldn't be... and then it wasn't. The joke was real.

    The joke was real.

  • Wastelander #33 3 years ago

    Meh, just give me Just Cause 2 already!

  • UncleLou #34 3 years ago

    No Scribblenauts indeed, for shame! :)

  • GreyBeard #35 3 years ago

    Milo & Kate, best technology ?!?

    /facepalm


    Seriously, applying the principles of cold-reading and the Forer effect to a piece of computer entertainment isn't big and clever. Its old-school charlatanism at its worst.

  • DrDamn #36 3 years ago

    @Domovoi
    If you watch the "official" vid then the demo lady isn't even standing in the right place for some of it. For example the playing in the water. She is standing right in front of the screen with her hand nearly touching it as she moves her arms. Yet the camera on top of the TV is picking up an image which it is putting on the screen it physically could not grab from that position.

  • Quint2020 #37 3 years ago

    I also love how Kojima and Bungie get the "Stuck in a Golden Rut Award" and yet a prettier version of a 20+ year old Mario game gets game of the show.....

  • JohnnyWashnGo #38 3 years ago

    Why do people hate Mario so much?

    Surely platform games are one of the biggest parts of videogame heritage and therefore Mario games, being some of the best examples of the platform game genre, are worthy of respect.

    I was certainly excited to hear about a new mario bros game, especially since it looks to be very similar to new super mario bros on the DS.

    Maybe its time for mario and luigi to go all first person and shoot the crap outta bowser and his henchmen?

  • monkeylite #39 3 years ago

    Not reading. Am I correct in guessing that the game of the show has been awarded to a Nintendo game?

  • Fixxxer #40 3 years ago

    @SleepyDeathFred Yes, and it wouldn't have been my choice but mainly I was just providing some balance to how the comments had gone up to that point.

    But as a geniune surprise it is about as new as games get at E3. Hell, it even has 'new' in the title.

  • funbag #41 3 years ago

    haha you muppets_
    now the always trying to be different serpent is going to come and bite you in the ass
    you chose milo and its fake....
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 16:15

  • chubster2010 #42 3 years ago

    re. 'The clamour to call Milo a fake when no-one ever claimed he was real - Molyneux himself admitting to "tricks"'

    That's patently not true. Molyneux's words in the MS press conference were 'This works. Today. Now.'

    Sure, he back-tracked in interviews after the conference - saying that there are tricks involved, but his actual presentation - and the thing that gets most attention, especially outside the specialist gaming press - told a different story.

    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 16:21

  • Physically_Insane #43 3 years ago

    Yeah, it's weird that Oli said they were looking for 'newness' and yet they pick a Mario platformer as game of the show.

  • Domovoi #44 3 years ago

    @DrDamn: So is Eurogamer's Ellie in on the conspiracy as well then, when she claimed that it worked for her in the hands on?

  • andywilkie35 #45 3 years ago

    I dunno, it may not have been my game of the show but I'm looking forward to that new Mario game.

  • Darren #46 3 years ago

    Mario is great as a character and Super Mario Galaxy was all kinds of super-awesome but, for whatever reason, I just cannot get excited about New Super Mario Bros. at all. Maybe I'm just dead inside but it looks like 2D retro update to me with added multiplayer and nothing new at all. Super Mario Galaxy 2 looks ten times more interesting...

  • funbag #47 3 years ago

    yeah well done eurogamer, you have done a good job of compiling a list of games I have no interest in.

  • Katsumoto #48 3 years ago

    Damn them for not pandering to your interests in an exacting manner.

  • mingster #49 3 years ago

    no booth babe pics = fail

  • spazmo #50 3 years ago

    Biggest U-turn of E3?

    Sony and Microsoft fannyboys suddenly defending motion control.

  • Physically_Insane #51 3 years ago

    @spazmo

    Um, most people are criticising it. In fact, only one person is defending it you spaz.

  • Darren #52 3 years ago

    "But we couldn't let Bungie go without a mention too. So Halo 3 is the end of a trilogy then? Is it? Is it really?"

    As long as Bungie can continue to milk the Halo franchise and make out of it then they will. And who can blame them if they sell by the millions?

    What I don't understand is why they broke away from Microsoft Games Studios when their first two projects turn out to be Halo games and first-person shooters too.

  • SleepyDeathFred #53 3 years ago

    @ Fixxxer That's fair I guess - I don't hate Mario by any means, I just think it was a bit of a weird choice!

  • DrDamn #54 3 years ago

    @Domovoi
    You said there was no proof it was staged, I provided proof. I didn't say the whole thing was fake, but the hands on you directed us to also recognises several flaws in the system. What did the Milo real demo actually do? Recognised a facial expression ... eventually. Recognised someone was talking when it expected them to - though didn't actually recognise the words they spoke - as implied in the presentation. Recognised the colour of the clothes she wore. As I said - Natal is great tech and the award could fittingly go to that. Milo - no.

  • spazmo #55 3 years ago

    Mario Galaxy dumps ten tons of cow dung on anything Playstation and Xbox has to offer. From a great height. And some people are wondering how a Mario game can be Game of Show?

  • brof #56 3 years ago

    quote of the show: Ever wondered what the bottom of an avatar's shoe look like. Well, BAM, there it is.

    That was the best quote.. ever!

    cheers,

  • DrDamn #57 3 years ago

    @The whole Mario thing
    I think what people want to see if Nintendo putting out some new IP in these spaces. If it's a new platformer it's Mario or Mario related all the time. People are a bit sick of him.

    Looking back I think Nintendo showed a lot of good stuff this E3 - certainly a lot better than last year - they were let down by a dull presentation and lack of new IP.

  • smoothpete #58 3 years ago

    It's MARIO. MARIO that we've been playing as for umpteen frigging years now. Mario. Again. With the whole same supporting cast. Again. Again and again and again and again. Do you not get bored of it? Honestly?

    "Hey it's a Mario game, I wonder what the storyline will be"

    Jeez, just a wild stab in the dark here but I'm thinking you might well have to rescue the princess.

  • space_ace #59 3 years ago

    there's no "the" in "agent"
    and no monkey island? O_o

  • Inquisitor #60 3 years ago

    I'm excited about ODST and Reach of course but I agree with Darren, seems a shame for the first two games of their new found independence to be Halo first person shooters. I assumed they wanted to break away from MS to enable them to create what they wanted to, not what MS surely wants them to.

    Perhaps if they'd stayed these new Halo titles would have been centred around the Master Chief though, some relief we're getting new characters. In fairness to Bungie they weren't exactly telling a porky when they claimed it was the end of the Halo trilogy, the Halo trilogy (Master Chief versus the 'Halo rings' heh) is finished, these new titles are set on Earth and Reach and probably only reference the MC in passing.
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 16:42

  • Syrette #61 3 years ago

    Embarrassing choice for game of show, quite frankly.
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 16:46

  • chubster2010 #62 3 years ago

    @ DrDamn

    'Recognised a facial expression ... eventually. Recognised someone was talking when it expected them to - though didn't actually recognise the words they spoke - as implied in the presentation.'

    Exactly. Another example - the video suggested that Milo understood the woman asking him if he had done his homework, and respond accordingly.

    Smoke and mirrors.

    Also, what's so impressive about the bit with water and the fish? Surely the Eyetoy did that ages ago?

    I do think that Natal, and Milo, are very, very interesting (and promising), but MS (and 'promise the world'-Molyneux) were definitely trying to pull the wool over our eyes.

  • b00n #63 3 years ago

    I agree with NATAL being tech of the show. Come on, it's the most daring, forward looking, courageous of everything that was on display at E3. It just was! And even if it was fake, which it wasn't, then it would STILL win because it made me imagine all the crazy, sci-fi possibilities.

  • Physically_Insane #64 3 years ago

    @b00n

    NATAL wasn't tech of the show. Milo was.

  • CallousB #65 3 years ago

    Best Game Announcement - Final Fantasy XIV Online...

    Can't say I agree with that..I would have said Metroid :other M by Team Ninja was a much bigger shock and created more buzz.....yet you didn't even give that an honourable mention.
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 16:51

  • Moonprince #66 3 years ago

    I mean seriously, EyePet is pretty much already doing that Milo shit, just a different game, different focus, same shit.

  • El-Dev #67 3 years ago

    Game of the show for me was The Last Guardian, looks immense.

    To be brutally honest Natal should have been tech of the show, that Milo thing was balls. Not that natal is much better, if Heather Mills had of been there with Paul and Ringo her fake leg would have won tech of the show, the competition was that poor.

  • jonsaan #68 3 years ago

    What did you expect Ringo and Paul to say exactly Ellie? I thought they were quite humble and cool myself. They clearly know feck all about the game. Blame the people who booked them with no rehearsal.

  • miiiguel #69 3 years ago

    JoneSaw dude, you didn't even read the article. That's pathetic.

  • morriss #70 3 years ago

    agree with none of it. But there you go. :)

  • Weezer #71 3 years ago

    I just watched Ringo and Paul's brief E3 appearance on YouTube - it didn't strike me as particularly disgusting or embarrassing. Well, no more than any other celeb being paid to walk onto a stage and talk about games they've never seen. Or did I miss something?

  • asphaltcowboy #72 3 years ago

    Are you mental? NSMB Wii as Game of Show? Did Minkley write this?!

  • Cid #73 3 years ago

    Were any of you at E3? Did you play NSMB? If not then I don't really see how you can criticise. EG aren't just basing this on videos, you know.

  • Azazel #74 3 years ago

    lol at all the geekrage

    ANGRY INTERNET MAN IS ANGRY

  • TheStatics #75 3 years ago

    How could "The Last Guardian" be game of the show? Didn't they just show a pre-rendered video that had already been leaked onto the internet?

    As for which game I think was best? No idea, I wasn't there and didn't play any of them.... much the same as most of the people posting comments I would think!

  • matrim83 #76 3 years ago

    No mention for Just cause 2? It was amazing.

    Also FF14 MMo announcement taking the cake. Are you serious?
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 17:32

  • ronuds #77 3 years ago

    Weak.

    Sorry...

    And this: "Also FF14 MMo announcement taking the cake. Are you serious?"

    Seriously, EG. An FF MMO seems to be about the last thing people are looking forward to.
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 17:37

  • TheNinkyNonk #78 3 years ago

    Sony don't half spout some shit and take their time to get going, but boy, when they get going...

    The next 12 months looks out of this world in terms of PS3 exclusives.

  • spudsbuckley #79 3 years ago

    How could "The Last Guardian" be game of the show? Didn't they just show a pre-rendered video that had already been leaked onto the internet?

    You know i've been dying to say this since it was shown of at E3 but i knew i'd be on the receiving end of a torrent of abuse.

    I really didn't see why everyone was getting so excited about it but then again i though Ico was only ok and not the best thing since sliced bread.

  • makeamazing #80 3 years ago

    Considering all of the top titles at the show, to have Mario game of show is pretty poor really.... seriously sort yourselves out EG....lol.

    Tech of the show, thats a difficult one, I also agree Natal is a whole "Not as useful or anywhere as good as you think it is tech", but from a PR/show package, MS did pull it off (just look at all the press and people with "Amazing" all over their faces). So I can see why Natal was tech of show... Milo wasnt tech, it was just a well scripted bit of software.

  • roz123 #81 3 years ago

    The thing that gave me the biggest smile when reading about it was New Super Mario Bros. It sounds like Nintendo have found the perfect balance between good co-op and being evil, pissing off your friends for shits and giggles. The stuff that makes local multiplayer so fun to play.

  • Physically_Insane #82 3 years ago

    @makeamazing

    But NATAL wasn't tech of the show. Read the article again.

    Milo != NATAL
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 17:54

  • JusticeMoses #83 3 years ago

    I agree that NSMB would be no where in my list of fave games of E3. Am I missing something or is it literally Super Mario but with three other people playing along? The way they were hyping it was like there was gonna be some mind blowing new game mechanic. The biggest surprise for me, perhaps not the best game though, was Splinter Cell: Conviction, the videos made it look absolutely awesome and I'm not a Splinter Cell fan at all.

  • Burkey123 #84 3 years ago

    Eh................... Where's Metroid : Other M?

  • #85 3 years ago

    Natal? How can a lie ( smoke and mirrors ) be the best tech?

    EuroLamer once again fails. Fucking laughable.

    Mario?

    /facepalm x 10

  • roz123 #86 3 years ago

    JusticeMose: The difference is that they have changed it to a competition between the 4 players to get the most points. The way they have done it does sound (to me at least) a lot of fun. Read the preview EG have done.

  • makeamazing #87 3 years ago

    @Physically_Insane, ah i see (should have read better... but it kinda lumped them together)... well its even more crazy of EG then... Milo was just a peice of 3D, with a well scripted woman and some odd responses, Natal was the tech... and that wasnt that good.

  • Calgon #88 3 years ago

    Seriously could the "tech experts" keen to point out "its not actually doing the real thing" step back and take a look that it does have technology there that is a result of recent R&D... it was more impressive technology wise than anything else shown simply for being unique, it has no competitors in this industry as far as Im aware. Also you have to start somewhere, it confuses me... do these people complain about Parallax/normal mapping because its a trick? Alot of the biggest innovations in the industry right now are built on tricks rather than going down the brute force route, you say they dont count as technology now?(seriously just stop turning everything into "I hate MS" for once in your sad lives) There was nothing at all ground breaking in the graphics department this year anyway, we've seen most of the important ones in the catagory before too... it would be interesting to see these peoples choices but I think most already have suspicions of what these people are really about.

    It is a good choice for best technology of the show Natal and Milo combined(it didnt say it had to be a game either because neither of these fit that category IMO... will they even release Milo as a game or was mostly a demo meant to inspire?) that is was the most captivating demonstration of the show and will be the highlight as we look back on it whether you butthurt Sony fans like it or not. Having said that nobody had an amazing E3 and nobody had a terrible one it was it was just a fairly decent showing all around.
    Edited by 4 at 08/06/09 @ 18:25

  • lemonfist #89 3 years ago

    Where is my Scribblenauts?

  • deathdealer619 #90 3 years ago

    some kind words for the guys at sony from eg, does not happen often so they should be proud of what they are accomplishing at last!

  • bad09 #91 3 years ago

    OK EG lost all credibility with me now, not a single mention of Monkey Island. For shame EG, and seriously, I love the look of the new mario but game of the show?????

    Still I don't care what EG's oddball picks are, all I care about is I had a cracking E3 (when it come to games that is, you can keep the 360/PS waggle tech real or not) with plenty on the wanted list, hell I'm even looking forward to PSP games again!

    Well done games industry, pat yourselves on the back.

  • electrolite #92 3 years ago

    Like most of the fanboys pouring out impotent rage on here, I wasn't at E3 and haven't played the games, but that seems a pretty good article. Mario looks great (to anyone who isn't dead inside and is adult enough to play games that don't feature gruff men shooting things bloodily), Natal, for all the debate over how far along it is and how representative Molyneux's demo is (and with him involved, probably not very) looks potentially amazing, and it certainly seemed from here that Sony had the stand out show, with a v.impressive catalogue of games across multiple formats (though the other two did pretty well, especially Microsoft for sheer quantity).

    Good stuff.

  • electrolite #93 3 years ago

    It;s over 20 years now I've been playing games now and people criticising Mario for the plot is one of the saddest representations of modern video games and gamers I've yet seen. Next up-Tetris doesn't feature accurate character modelling and lip-synching.

  • GamesConnoisseur #94 3 years ago

    Good article and of course giving something for everyone, still that may never going to be enough for the fanboys today!

    I ll second that Sony has the best portfolio of anyone, and Nintendo and Microsoft needs to do better to catch up next year, though I dont imagine that this would be easily done as Sony had possibly best range of studios under their belt.

  • MORZTAN #95 3 years ago

    Mario is the King. And will always, ALWAYS be the King of the videogame industry.

  • ronuds #96 3 years ago

    "It is a good choice for best technology of the show Natal and Milo combined(it didnt say it had to be a game either because neither of these fit that category IMO... will they even release Milo as a game or was mostly a demo meant to inspire?) that is was the most captivating demonstration of the show and will be the highlight as we look back on it whether you butthurt Sony fans like it or not."

    ^^This!!! Gets soooo tiring hearing the same dopes spout the same bullshit over and over. "Natal is crap" or "PM sucks" etc. It's like, don't you realize what an idiot you make yourself look like? Ok, you hate... that's fine. But at least talk with some sense or don't talk at all.

    Milo most certainly does work, just not to such an extent that it can be put on shelves. People need to understand the difference between something which is all smoke and mirrors, and something which technically is possible and capable of happening, ala Milo. The tech is there - it's only the software that needs to be expanded.

  • smelly #97 3 years ago

    Oh NOES!!!

    How DARE they pick a game which ISNT a fps? That MUST mean they DONT know what they're talking about!

    After all, it has COLOURFUL graphics and EVERYTHING!

    it MUST be shit.. i've never played it so it MUST be..

    *Sigh* forum gamers are retards.

  • schachmatt #98 3 years ago

    This comment-thread really brings out the worst of the haters.

    While I find it fun sometimes to read those console war threads this one is just ugly and shows the insecurity of one-console-owners all too much. They don't even love their machine, they just hate all the others for their accomplishments.

  • smelly #99 3 years ago

    (ignoring the fnaboys.. and if i did - i'd probably only see 2 posts)

    Best tech award for me goes to the sony motion thing.. Worked perfectly, no glitches - and more "real world" apps than the eye toy rip off.

    I'd also pick that mod-racing game too as "game of the show"

    but then i'm only going by videos ... proof is obviously in the playing (Which all the retards on this thread seem to have missed)

  • smelly #100 3 years ago

    "It's MARIO. MARIO that we've been playing as for umpteen frigging years now. Mario. Again. With the whole same supporting cast. Again. Again and again and again and again. Do you not get bored of it? Honestly?"


    Do you not get bored playing the same fps/racing game over and over and over again - but with different cast?

  • #101 3 years ago

    WISE UP.

    Most people here are adults. Most adults here have played fucking Mario to death and is sick of it hence comments. No doubt its a great franchise and gaming experience, but seriously can we move on from Mario to something else after 20 years.

    /hates mario.

  • smelly #102 3 years ago

    >Most people here are adults.

    LOL! I'm guessing most are teenagers.

    > Most adults here have played fucking Mario to death and is sick of it hence comments.

    Most mario games play significantly differently from each other. There were 4 mario games announced this year.. each plays differently.

    Now what would you prefer?

    4 different games which play differently - but have the same main character
    or
    10 brown fps games which all play the exact same - but with different characters?

    Honestly - the first half of microsofts presentation, it felt like all the games on show merged into one.

    >but seriously can we move on from Mario to something else after 20 years.

    how many halo games were announced again?

  • ronuds #103 3 years ago

    "(ignoring the fnaboys.. and if i did - i'd probably only see 2 posts)

    Best tech award for me goes to the sony motion thing.. Worked perfectly, no glitches - and more "real world" apps than the eye toy rip off."

    Irony?

  • smelly #104 3 years ago

    >Irony?

    I thought everyone thought i was a nintendo fanboy? Am I a sony one now (just because i thought they showed the best games out of all 3? And the best tech?)

    make up your minds!
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 19:51

  • paulf #105 3 years ago

    firstly it's difficult to comment on any games that the majority of us haven't played,

    However based on the last mario game that even 20 odd years on they are still innovating enough to stand out amongst the hordes of generic games that are around.


    on another note
    imo if you hate mario or slag off miyamoto I really don't see how you can call yourself a gamer

  • ronuds #106 3 years ago

    @ smelly

    I don't know what kind of fanboy you are, but that comment certainly wasn't without bias.

    The Sony Wii-mote ripoff was tech of the show, but the Eyetoy ripoff was just a ripoff? LOL

    And I'd say the Wand was more a ripoff than Natal. Eyetoy doesn't have infrared sensors and crap!
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 19:52

  • Calgon #107 3 years ago

    LOL@Smelly really words cant begin to describe how rediculous he look's there with the above mentioned quote.

    Les is exactly the same... I expected no less though, so its quite satisfying that really since anyone who still doesnt see it now has no place calling themselves unbiased in the slightest, that or you arent too bright.

    Do they actually know how obvious it looks though to the people who still bother to listen to their poorly masked(why even attempt to pretend you arent anti-ms) Anti-MS waffle?
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 19:53

  • smelly #108 3 years ago

    >imo if you hate mario or slag off miyamoto I really don't see how you can call yourself a gamer

    +1

    and imho - most of those that do, are probably only playing "mainstream" fps games anyhows.. and as such are (ironically) the casual gamers who they keep blasting hate at.

  • smelly #109 3 years ago

    >The Sony Wii-mote ripoff was tech of the show, but the Eyetoy ripoff was just a ripoff?

    Erm... Im sorry.. but when i waggle my wiimote - do i see myself in game holding the sword? No. The sony tech can be used for LOTS of different applications.. And I think you'll find they've been demoing this idea since the first eye toy (but the ps2 didnt have the power to do it and play a game), so if anything they were before nintendo..


    >but the Eyetoy ripoff was just a ripoff?

    you said it - not me.

  • smelly #110 3 years ago

    "Do they actually know how obvious it looks though to the people who still bother to listen to their poorly masked Anti-MS waffle?"


    Erm.. anyone who has my gamertag (if you need "proof" pm me and i'll send my tag to you) can see that i spend more time playing my 360 than the wii - and i dont even own a ps3!

    Currently playing Burnout Paradise and fallout 3.

    Im not "anti" any console. I'm "anti" fanboys talking nonsense on forums.. and i'm "anti" generic fps games.

    Im not "pro" any console. I'm "pro" fun games (mario/burnout paradise/etc), and i'm also "pro" games that i can sink my teeth into (rpgs mainly)
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 19:58

  • Calgon #111 3 years ago

    No smelly you are and always have been closet MS hater(yes you own a 360 but you resented having to buy one at the time you bought it, for the latest games).

    So a simple hater then just like Les and a few others, the only reason you mask it(and Im pretty darn certain of this) is because you know nobody at all would be left to read your waffle if you didnt atleast feign some objectivity... mention you own one but never play it, you know the same old shit you get on all sides of this fanboy era. It doesnt work so dont try it... the fact that you pick the "wii-mote ripoff" which had a piss poor last minute("oooh shit we need to show something to go up against natal";) demo which was clearly not going to be shown quite so early if not for Natal over something that was actually unique and well presented(things which you probably preach to everyone is why you prefer Nintendo... innovation ect)... reeks of someone that cannot stand to see MS get any credit. Yet you are over eager to give Nintendo and even Sony(just as long as its not that nasty MS) credit for next to nothing.
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 20:08

  • smelly #112 3 years ago

    >No smelly you are and always have been closet MS hater

    No calgon - i'm a "out of the closet" anti-"msoft-fanboy-who-slags-off-any-other-machine-or-g ames-which-arent-fps-games" hater


    >mention you own one but never play it

    Erm.. Did i not just say it gets the most use?

    surely therefor i've just SLAGGED off my beloved wii!!! OH NOES!

    *sigh*

    children

  • bad09 #113 3 years ago

    Smelly dude, you call people children yet your posts are probably the most immature here (again)... *sigh*

  • ronuds #114 3 years ago

    "Erm... Im sorry.. but when i waggle my wiimote - do i see myself in game holding the sword? No. The sony tech can be used for LOTS of different applications.. And I think you'll find they've been demoing this idea since the first eye toy (but the ps2 didnt have the power to do it and play a game), so if anything they were before nintendo.."

    And Natal can't be used for lots of applications - containing every feature you mentioned and then some?

    Natal seriously makes the Wand look like already old tech. If you can't see that or don't know why, then I doubt you'll allow me to explain.
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 20:09

  • smelly #115 3 years ago

    >containing every feature you mentioned and then some?

    like looking at the bottom of your shoe?

    >Smelly dude, you call people children yet your posts are probably the most immature here

    Ah i see.. Internet logic 101 - if you dont agree with the shit being spouted by the masses.. then you're a fanboy.. if you try to show you're not a fanboy - then you're obviously a fanboy of another machine. If you try to prove you play machine 3 more than the first 2 you've just been accused of being a "fanboy" of.. then somehow you're now immature?

  • bad09 #116 3 years ago

    No Smelly it's not that you disagree, we all do at some point it's what makes comments thread interesting (or hilarious at times!). It's how you do it my friend......

    "*Sigh* forum gamers are retards. "

    "How DARE they pick a game which ISNT a fps? That MUST mean they DONT know what they're talking about! "

    "(ignoring the fnaboys.. and if i did - i'd probably only see 2 posts) "

    "LOL! I'm guessing most are teenagers."

    "*sigh* children"

    "Ah i see.. Internet logic 101 - if you dont agree with the shit being spouted by the masses.. then you're a fanboy.. if you try to show you're not a fanboy - then you're obviously a fanboy of another machine. If you try to prove you play machine 3 more than the first 2 you've just been accused of being a "fanboy" of.. then somehow you're now immature? "

    ........makes you look like a spoilt 10 year old, and that's just one page of one thread!

  • Calgon #117 3 years ago

    Smelly its irrelevant what you play more, I've formed my opinion of you by recalling and comparing your posts from all sides here over a long period of time as other people probably have(except alot of those probably put you on ignore which is a feature I barely ever use, you are consistant with your double standards and hypocrisy) you simply do not like MS, if you had the integrity to admit that you might actually get some respect, right now though most people probably think you are a bit of douche.

  • smelly #118 3 years ago

    Okay - i'll answer this one seriously, as people seem to have forgotten from my earlier posts:

    >>containing every feature you mentioned and then some?

    As far as im concerned the most important feature for all the "motion sensing" devices (for most games) is the pointing. After all most games are (to my annoyance) fps games.

    If you watch sonys presentation, the degree of accuracy in the pointing is far superior to that of the wiimote - in that he can even get in and write his name. Try doing that with the wiimote - and you'll end up with a huge blotchy mess.

    But then in contrast you have microsofts presentation. Which just seemed to recognise huge sweeping motions, etc. Look at the "painting" presentation, it could only really detect large movements - and wasnt doing ANYTHING the eyetoy wasnt already doing 5 (or so - dunno the date it came out) years ago..

    Then during sonys presentation, you ALWAYS had real time 1 on 1 representation on screen - without ANY bugs or anything going wrong. Most of microsofts demo was pre-recorded, but the bit that didnt - immediately went wrong when he tried to show the bottom of the avatars shoe and the model went inside out with his arm coming out his arse.

    Sonys tech also features a camera (something the wii doesnt have) so you can see yourself swinging around in games.

    All the games (tech demos) that microsoft showed (like the ball hitting game) were possible on the eyetoy. Okay, the tech has been improved - but i dont see the games themselves being any different than eye-toy style mini games... And the eyetoy was a RIP ROARING success wasnt it?

    Oh, and on topic of motion capture - im STILL convinced that sony's tech presentation has been demoed on the ps2 (but due to power cancelled) waay before nintendo announced the wiimote...

  • smelly #119 3 years ago

    >you are consistant with your double standards and hypocrisy

    See, that's called "not being a fanboy"

    if you want to just support one machine and one type of game.. then bully for you.. I personally think that's a bit sad, but each to their own.

    I'll support whichever machine/game i think is showing the most potential at any given time - because i like playing GAMES.

    So yes.. i "change sides" a lot, but then i never really have a "side". So if that's double standards and hypocisy.. then fine whatever.

    >........makes you look like a spoilt 10 year old, and that's just one page of one thread!

    Read the posts on the first 2 pages.. imho - those are from spoilt kids... but then you wont think that - because THEY agree with you...

    >paraphrasing : "Admit it smell you hate microsoft"

    Yes i have had periods where i hated microsoft (Especially after my TENTH failure/return).

    Just like i've had periods where i hated sony (still waiting for the ps3 to become cheap)

    and indeed nintendo (why isnt it in high-def dammit?)

    I'm a FAN of GAMES!!! Fucking hell, is this a concept that retarded forum fanboys struggle to understand or what? fucking hell.. and they say gaming makes kids stupid.

    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 20:25

  • smelly #120 3 years ago

    I should just agree with you lot shouldnt i?

    Yes i'm a fanboy (of what i dont know? games?)
    Yes i'm childish (for replying to childish drivel)
    Yes i'm SURE nsmb will be crap (I dont have any friends to play with)

  • #121 3 years ago

    No m8, you should just STFU

    lol.

  • Calgon #122 3 years ago

    Smelly so lets get this straight...

    But then in contrast you have microsofts presentation. Which just seemed to recognise huge sweeping motions, etc. Look at the "painting" presentation, it could only really detect large movements - and wasnt doing ANYTHING the eyetoy wasnt already doing 5 (or so - dunno the date it came out) years ago..

    You dont seem to have paid much attention to what has already been said about Natal... its FAR better than Eyetoy which was just a webcam that you could hook up to the PS2 with some software written for it.

    So aside from you being wrong about it being shit and not that accurate... I take you think its just a more advanced/accurate version of eyetoy and for that you dont find it impressive?

    Then you go on to say the shitty demonstration of the Playstation motion controller(which was poorly done and did look rushed/last minute inclusion to the show) is actually impressive even though by your own admission its just a more advanced/accurate version of the wii-mote? Riiight, you see you might not even realise it yourself but it looks like subconciously if thats the case you are looking for excuses not to give MS any credit.

    Also you are forgetting Natal can be used in conjunction with a controller with its own pointing mechanism/motion sensing which could be extreemly cheep and simple if they thought about it smartly... they could even track a pointer with a simple LED and it would add up to more than that rather predictable controller form Sony but if they bother adding a controller to it Id rather they add everything they need such as triggers, buttons and moition sensors it would add up to a whole lot more than anything you saw in those rather basic demonstrations from Sony(no imagination in them).

  • #123 3 years ago

    Ps3 eyetoy head tracking...Pretty nice if all you need is a cam!

    nice!

  • Calgon #124 3 years ago

    Yeah seen that, looks like a copy of the wii-mote hack, which was done ages ago.

    Pretty good but given that the guy who did the wii-mote hack which was obviously an inspiration for this demo has been working on the Natal team for years now... I think its a given they are way ahead on this idea. So please dont try and claim it was Sony's idea as its pretty likely theres something for Natal being worked on already perhaps in the form an actual game... hopefully its one of the things that Rare have been up to with Natal.

  • bad09 #125 3 years ago

    "Wow, the Console Fanboys have mutated into Waggle Fanboys."

    LOL! Run for the hills lads, grab as many PC components as you can, the wagglers are coming!

  • Rash' #126 3 years ago

    "Mario is great, what's the problem?"

    This. Plain and simple. Go play SMW today and it is as great today as it was when was first released. Don't know about the 4D claim but this could be genius!!!

  • ronuds #127 3 years ago

    "But then in contrast you have microsofts presentation. Which just seemed to recognise huge sweeping motions, etc. Look at the "painting" presentation, it could only really detect large movements - and wasnt doing ANYTHING the eyetoy wasnt already doing 5 (or so - dunno the date it came out) years ago.."

    I'm wondering if you watched everything they had to show? When they showed Burnout, Natal was certainly capable of tracking more than large sweeping motions.

    I think why you're being called a fanboy is because you seem to be choosing to ignore the better features and are focusing rather on the few points which you consider to be bad. Natal is a pretty good leap ahead of the Eyetoy. Eyetoy had neither voice nor facial recognition, nor could it recognize mutiple parties playing the same game. I'm not sure if it recognized 3D either? I'm not taking anything away from the Eyetoy, but it's a few years behind Natal... and the Wand, while maybe accurate and good, is a waste of space. I'm sorry, but it is! Sony is not innovating, but they're searching for an identity by following the pack.

  • #128 3 years ago

    OMG. Just watched Natal for the 1st time on E3. Its the Wii all over again no matter how fancy the bloody tech is inside or lazerwtfsauce. I wonder how much this will go for. And why would I want to move through my dash using gestures? Surely the simplest and easiest way is by controller.

    Voice recognition is cool tho. Was there any real games applications on show using this?

  • Rash' #129 3 years ago

    "What I don't understand is why they broke away from Microsoft Games Studios when their first two projects turn out to be Halo games and first-person shooters too."

    ah, the mysteries of the universe! ;)

    i don't get it either.
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 21:10

  • Calgon #130 3 years ago

    Ok just for Smelly Im not one for using Wiki as a source for much but in this instance it seems like the best way:

    I wondered if I was under appreciating the innovation in the Eyetoy but I cant find anything that suggests otherwise it is a Logitec Webcam designed for a console with some software to go with it.

    The EyeToy is a color digital camera device, similar to a webcam, for the PlayStation 2. The technology uses computer vision and Gesture recognition to process images taken by the camera. This allows players to interact with games using motion, color detection and also sound, through its built-in microphone.

    The camera is manufactured by Logitech (known as "Logicool" in Japan), although newer EyeToys are manufactured by Namtai. The camera is mainly used for playing EyeToy games developed by Sony and other companies. It is not intended for use as a normal PC camera, although some people have developed unofficial drivers for it.[1] As of November 6, 2008, the EyeToy has sold 10.5 million units worldwide.[2]

    Natal really is far more advanced as I said, aside for adding sensors that make it more accurate than the Eyetoy could ever hope to be, its own processor to handle the extra processing required to use it on the console, along with new software technology from MS R&D that brings skeletal mapping and voice recognition that the eyetoy couldnt even hope to do justice with its dated components.(which were barely up to standard even at the time it was released)


    An approximately nine-inch (23 cm) wide horizontal bar[7] connected to a small circular base with a ball joint pivot, the Project Natal sensor is designed to be positioned lengthwise above or below the video display. The device features an "RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone, and custom processor running proprietary software", which provides full-body 3D motion capture, facial recognition, and voice recognition capabilities. The Project Natal sensor's microphone array enables the Xbox 360 to conduct acoustic source localization and ambient noise suppression, allowing for things such as headset-free party chat over Xbox Live.[1]b[›]

    The depth sensor consists of an infrared projector combined with a monochrome CMOS sensor, and allows the Project Natal sensor to see in 3D under any ambient light conditions.[8][1]c[›] The active depth-sensing range of the depth sensor is adjustable,d[›] with the Project Natal software capable of automatically calibrating the sensor based on the gameplay and environment conditions, such as the presence of couches.[9]

    Project Natal is reportedly based on software technology developed internally by Microsoft and hardware intellectual property acquired from time-of-flight camera developer 3DV Systems.[4][10][11][12][13] Before agreeing to sell all its assets in March 2009,[14] 3DV had been preparing its own depth-sensing webcam controller, known as the ZCam.[15]e[›]

    Described by Microsoft personnel as the primary innovation of Project Natal,[12][13][16] the software technology enables advanced gesture recognition, facial recognition, and voice recognition.[11] The skeletal mapping technology shown at E3 2009 was capable of simultaneously tracking multiple users for motion analysis,[11][13][8] with a real-time feature extraction of 48 interest points on a human body.[9] Depending on the person's distance from the sensor, Project Natal is capable of tracking models that can identify individual fingers.
    Edited by 3 at 08/06/09 @ 21:06

  • Rash' #131 3 years ago

    TheNinkyNonk, seems as though we're the only two that can see the elephant in this room. Sony deserve publisher of the year of the back of that showing at E3. There certainly isn't a better time to be a PS3 owner.

  • smelly #132 3 years ago

    "I'm wondering if you watched everything they had to show? When they showed Burnout, Natal was certainly capable of tracking more than large sweeping motions. "

    Erm.. yes.. my point was that it obviously cant detect small pin point movements to the point that you could sign your name - or point exactly to the pixel where you want on the screen. It could only (Seemingly) detect MOTION.

    Why else do you think they had to do that "sillohette" thing to get the shape of the elephant? if it was THAT accurate then surely you'd be able to just paint the elephant on?

    And I didnt say the whole thing was nothing more than the eye toy..

    But:

    1) the painting presentation could (without the voice recognition) be done exactly the same on the eyetoy (lower def obviously)
    2) ditto to the burnout demo (IF - big if - the eyetoy motion sensing didnt take up so much processing power to the point you COULD play a game with it)
    3) for the MOST part the "hitting balls" demo couldve been done on the eyetoy as well.. except obviously without 3d depth.

    etc etc.

    I personally cant see how natal will be of any use for anything apart from mini game fests - and be doomed to the same fate as the wii.

    But I *CAN* see sonys thing being used for fps games, etc etc.

  • Rash' #133 3 years ago

    ronuds, i'll agree Sony aren't innovating, but do you honestly believe Natal would be a topic for discussion if Wii wasn't on the market???

  • smelly #134 3 years ago

    "Natal really is far more advanced as I said, aside for adding sensors that make it more accurate than the Eyetoy could ever hope to be,... etc etc *snip*"


    Sigh..

    I *DIDNT* say that natal WAS the eyetoy. It's OBVIOUSLY not, it can track 3d movement, recreate bones, etc etc. The eyetoy was LAST GEN tech.. so in 5 years, i'd HOPE things have moved on.

    My point (for the hard of thinking - such as yourself) was that the painting app shown was no more sensitive than the eyetoy (and indeed nothing the eyetoy couldnt do), etc etc.. I wont go on as i'm repeating myself.

    My point being - and i'll make it again. There are MORE *Real world* gaming (i.e. REAL games) applications for sony's device than microsofts one (Which will be doomed to wii style mini game fests)

    EDIT:

    "nor could it recognize mutiple parties playing the same game. "

    erm.. yes it could...

    [link url=http://www.videogamesblo gger.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/eyetoy-play-3-screenshot .jpg
    ]http://ww w.videogamesblogger.com/wp-cont...[/link]
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 21:11

  • Calgon #135 3 years ago

    smelly but you dont even seem to know much about Natal... I ve just shown you that most of your critisms are based on what you'd prefer to beleive, read the quote above and it should tell you that its more accurate than you gave it credit for. You are basing everything around the painting demo? Well it could be that its not quite as accurate for pointing but that can be solved by introducing a controller designed to go with it, also everything they chose to show was well presented and in a state worthy of being shown unlike Sony's... they will have lots that being worked on that we havent seen yet.

    You DID say "its only capable of detecting large sweeping jestures" you like to be selective in what you actually take notice of... which is mostly negatives concerning MS I find Natal way more promising than that controller you speak of as I said.. it would be cheap to add a controller to that package and youd beable to do everything you can hope from the Sony one and MORE.
    Edited by 2 at 08/06/09 @ 21:26

  • smelly #136 3 years ago

    >ronuds, i'll agree Sony aren't innovating,

    So they DIDNT release the eyetoy YEARS ago? And they didnt start doing motion sensing before nintendo?

    You're right.. they arent innovating.

    What they REALLY needed to do was show us the bottom of the avatars shoe...



    >smelly but you dont even seem to know much about Natal...

    *sigh* whatever you say.

  • Calgon #137 3 years ago

    smelly you dont though you've shown yourself to be pretty clueless here in all honesty. Eyetoy was a standard webcam with some unique software that Sony took credit for. Thats not really innovation.

  • Rash' #138 3 years ago

    smelly, chill man. i was referring to their "wand". it looks like the wii motion plus with the eye toy. i agree Sony had a more convincing showing for real world application... but lets be honest eye toy suggested at the innovative possibilities, while Wii delivered it. neither MS or Sony can claim to be the trend shifters Ninty have been this gen... Whether those trends are to all our tastes is debatable, of course! ;)
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 21:25

  • smelly #139 3 years ago

    @Calgon : And natal is a 3d camera which microsoft bought - with some software on it?

    Erm.. um.. the innovation is with being the first to do it with games you fucktard.


    EDIT : Sorry for the lack of decorum and the profanity - i just have low tollerance for stupidity.
    Edited by 2 at 08/06/09 @ 21:27

  • smelly #140 3 years ago

    >neither MS or Sony can claim to be the trend shifters Ninty have been this gen.

    +1

    .. even though sony did it first.

  • secombe #141 3 years ago

    God bless teh interwebs, or something. I did laugh hard at the "most people here are adults" comment, breathtakingly wrong.

    The 3 most important things about a game...1) Gameplay 2) Gameplay 3) Gameplay

    Can anyone (who has played it, obviously) give a genuine answer as to why New Super Mario Bros Wii shouldn't be top of the pile?
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 21:28

  • Calgon #142 3 years ago

    smelly MS designed their own camera and software is the difference you dickwad! Sony probably just bought the idea off logitec and relied on 3rd party for the games.

    EDIT: Bwahahaha smelly.... no you're the moron, you stubborn little crybaby! Just fess up when youve made an error instead of trying to dig your way out maybe? I dont know why Im wasting my finger-breath you will never change.
    Edited by 5 at 08/06/09 @ 21:36

  • Rash' #143 3 years ago

    ".. even though sony did it first."

    i concur. :)

  • JusticeMoses #144 3 years ago

    Whether I play Mario by myself or with 3 other people, its still ultimately the same Super Mario World I played back on the SNES. Don't get me wrong I loved it but something vastly different is needed. Super Mario Galaxy was getting there so it seems odd to take a step back but try and claim its a step forward.

  • ronuds #145 3 years ago

    "ronuds, i'll agree Sony aren't innovating, but do you honestly believe Natal would be a topic for discussion if Wii wasn't on the market???"

    I can't seem to find where I actually said that? Of course neither of them would be doing this if not for Nintendo's domination.

  • ronuds #146 3 years ago

    ".. even though sony did it first"

    Do you guys honestly believe Sony is the first to introduce a motion sensing camera that works with games?

    A little more from Wikipedia you might like to see then:
    "The EyeToy was originally devised by Dr. Richard Marks, who had the idea of connecting a web camera to a PlayStation 2 and using it as a peripheral to play video games. The idea of using cameras in games was not new, as it was previously used in many arcade games and toys such as the Game Boy Camera and the Dreameye digital camera for the Sega Dreamcast, the latter of which affected the development of the EyeToy"

    LOL, Sony did it first! Does anyone do research before making a bunch of claims over the intertubes? Looks to me like another Sony ripoff job - this time from the Dreamcast.
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 22:04

  • Rash' #147 3 years ago

    ronuds, neither of which were used as motion sensing devices for game applications.
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 22:20

  • Calgon #148 3 years ago

    They were cameras for gaming devices what else were they intended for?

    It was obviously something that was already thought of the games probably already existed in concept phase and look who scooped them up with their big "3vil" nasty corporate checkbook? It was Sony!

  • ronuds #149 3 years ago

    Says it was also used in MANY arcade games.

    Also from wiki:
    "It was designed to be used as a webcam and a digital still camera, and there were plans for games to involve the Dreameye"

    So whether or not they ever made games for it is neither here nor there - the fact of the matter is they planned to and the Dreameye had sufficient technology to do so. Sony saw this and made one of their own, plus had enough backing to actually release games. We all know why the Dreameye never came to fruition.

    Not only did they rip off the idea, but half the effing name! LOL - the more I read into this the more hilarious and obvious it becomes.
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 22:15

  • toythatkills #150 3 years ago

    No Scribblenauts.

    List is invalid.

  • Calgon #151 3 years ago

    Anyway not that anyone important will read this trainwreck(lets face it lol) of a comments thread but I do hope MS add a wand/pointer with atleast a trigger to go with Natal for FPS's at the least a fully fledged controller with motion sensor and everything else you'd expect for hardcore games would be nice but be on over kill depending on just how much theyd need to add accurate pointing to natal with some triggers/buttons(ie it might already be halfway there).

    It could prove to be usefull to even the most hardcore gamers too in the end.
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 22:20

  • Rash' #152 3 years ago

    ronuds, it is in discussions like these that your bias makes you incapable of seeing the whole picture objectively. i will say this only once and then you are welcome to rant to yourself. Eye Toy was the first successfully manufactured and marketed consumer electronics device that applied full motion controls to gaming applications. simple.
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 22:22

  • Calgon #153 3 years ago

    Not innovative was it though? They just released someone elses very same idea and there are still people claiming its an example of how "innovative" Sony are compared to MS.

    Erm.. um.. the innovation is with being the first to do it with games you fucktard.

    :/ I'd facepalm for Smelly and the like but I'm not that geeky.
    Edited by 2 at 08/06/09 @ 22:25

  • ronuds #154 3 years ago

    "i will say this only once and then you are welcome to rant to yourself. Eye Toy was the first successfully manufactured and marketed consumer electronic device that applied full motion controls to gaming applications. simple."

    Ok... I thought your stance was that they invented the tech. Your statements are like moving platforms, which rest where it is most comfortable.

    And let's put aside the bias talk, please. It's not as if it hasn't been shining through in your comments - like giving a company credit for something they don't deserve credit for. Let those who live in glass houses throw the 1st stone. That means there will be no throwing stones in this comments section, that's for sure!

  • ronuds #155 3 years ago

    "Anyway not that anyone important will read this trainwreck(lets face it lol) of a comments thread but I do hope MS add a wand/pointer with atleast a trigger to go with Natal for FPS's at the least a fully fledged controller with motion sensor and everything else you'd expect for hardcore games"

    I agree. They need an all-around device which will work for any gametype or they might be limited to certain kinds of games.

  • Rash' #156 3 years ago

    ronuds, maybe it's a question of how you interpret my comments... i've been reasonably objective in this thread.

  • betahoven #157 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:36:16 17-12-2011

  • smelly #158 3 years ago

    @ Calgon : "smelly MS designed their own camera and software is the difference you dickwad! Sony probably just bought the idea off logitec and relied on 3rd party for the games."


    Oh... so microsoft DIDNT buy a 3d camera company recently?

  • smelly #159 3 years ago

    >Milol. It's like Tamagotchi for paedos.

    Milo:

    Molyneux
    Is
    Lying (again)
    Obviously

  • Geordiemp #160 3 years ago

    Milo was a Fake. She got out of routine and had to catch up. Funny LOL.

    Proof

    [link url=http ://img190.imageshack.us/i/screencapture.jpg/
    ]http://im g190.imageshack.us/i/screencapt...[/link]

    Edited by 2 at 08/06/09 @ 22:49

  • Rash' #161 3 years ago

    when will people realise Calgon is Microsoft's bitch? he doesn't even have a 360 which just makes him an annoyance. thankfully such an annoyance can be avoided. :)
    Edited by 1 at 08/06/09 @ 22:57

  • smelly #162 3 years ago

    >when will people realise Calgon is Microsoft's bitch?

    Oh.. i didnt realise.. is he like this all the time? I thought i was in the wrong?

    oh..

    okay - he's ignored.. cheers

  • smelly #163 3 years ago

    >No Scribblenauts.

    Im still not convinced that'll work 100% as suggested.. but then i believe that more than milo :-)

  • Calgon #164 3 years ago

    Oh thats rich coming from Rash' himself eh?

    When will people realise Rash' is a mere Sony Fanboy who feigns all of his objectivity? Oh wait they already do... ;)

    Oh... so microsoft DIDNT buy a 3d camera company recently?

    Oh so that means what exactly? Couldnt be that MS saw they have been working on similar technology with a similar vision and wanted them on board rather than competing with them? No they certainly couldnt have been working on seperate projects at the SAME TIME rather than a gap between them to give either side enough time to "copy". :/ Idiot!
    Edited by 4 at 08/06/09 @ 23:42

  • Rash' #165 3 years ago

    "Oh.. i didnt realise.. is he like this all the time? I thought i was in the wrong? oh.. okay - he's ignored.. cheers"

    common sense prevails again!

  • Calgon #166 3 years ago

    Ah the ignore feature when you're obviously in over your head you can just make out you are simply rising above, when in all honesty you arent, you are pretending none of the pownage happened. ;)

    Let it be said I have far more objectivity than Rash' does atleast, no matter how much he tries to appear anything but a Sony fanboy, I mean he's just a trickier version of Apolol.

    edit - Are these people being deliberately ignorrant? Its like they want to pretend they are uncovering the truth...

    WE ALREADY KNOW WHATS NOT REAL THERE BECAUSE PETER TOLD US!

    That and even EG got to test it out, what is there is impressive/cool/new enough in its own right though, so STOP CRYING!
    Edited by 2 at 08/06/09 @ 23:47

  • Moonprince #167 3 years ago

    Calgon buddy, you should re-read some of this. It's pretty cringe worthy...

  • Calgon #168 3 years ago

    Moonprince what is? The SDF brigade out in full force acting like tits? LOL tell me about it... fucking pathetic isnt it? ;)

  • FrankCannon #169 3 years ago

    @ smelly ? EDIT : Sorry for the lack of decorum and the profanity - i just have low tollerance for stupidity. ? Tolerance only has one l you stupid? annoying little cnut.

  • Dirtie #170 3 years ago

    No Scribblenauts?

  • Jesus: Action Figure #171 3 years ago

    Fucking hell at the comments.

    I mean really.

    FUCKING HELL.

  • smelly #172 3 years ago

    >Tolerance only has one l you stupid? annoying little cnut.


    The question mark goes at the end of the sentence.

    Oh, and it's spelled "cunt"

  • Darren #173 3 years ago

    @smelly's earlier question - Can I have four games that play differently all with DIFFERENT characters, please? ;)

    Seriously, I thought that 2D Mario Bros. game looked old hat and I'm not interested in it at all. It would have been bottom of my E3 list personally. Super Mario Galaxy 2 on the other hand... I can't wait to play that.

  • BartonFink #174 3 years ago

    Jaysus smelly really has delivered in this one. Frothyness and everything.
    /applauds.

    Not sure whether he deserves a facepalm or a joey.

  • Machetazo #175 3 years ago

    While I agree with FFXIV as the game announcement of the show, I thought it was a close run thing between that, and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - which you've not mentioned - and my honourable mention would go to Metroid: Other M, showcasing Nintendo's astonishing collaboration with Team Ninja. In both these cases, plenty of gameplay and mood-setting footage was shown to spark the level of interest that came about, and ably illustrate why people should be keeping an eye on those games.
    Edited by 1 at 09/06/09 @ 09:38

  • TheComedian #176 3 years ago

    I'm not too impressed with this list of games. I also agree that Natal should be tech of the show, with specific reference to Milo as an example of its capabilities.

    What's happened to APB btw? Is it still an XB exclusive? I remember it was listed as the number one action game to look forward to this year, but I've heard NOTHING of it.

    I totally agree with Oli, the SW trailer is unbelievable, and by far the best thing to come out of the canon in a while.

    Did anyone else think SC: Conviction looked amazing? Uncharted 2 makes me wish I was a PS3 owner :p That would probs be my game of the show.

    Also, I missed all the coverage of Scribblenauts this year, has anyone got any links to a good article? Cheers

  • dingo75 #177 3 years ago

    What's happened to APB btw? Is it still an XB exclusive? I remember it was listed as the number one action game to look forward to this year, but I've heard NOTHING of it.

    PC exclusive now with a possible console porting later on.

  • makeamazing #178 3 years ago

    I love all the people arguing about a tech thats not even anywhere near to being released... lols :)

    As for Mario, never really liked that type of game, I'm the same with Zelda too, perhaps its the cutesy type graphics i cant get past, perhaps I'm getting too old to like those types of games. For me with all the big hitting games coming out in the next 12 months, it seems strange to give game of show to something that doesnt really look/seem that different to 10 or 15 years ago. I could real off all the big games at the show, but there doesnt seem to be much point ;)

    I appreciate some people love that type of game, just not me :D.. but then Ive never got the idea why Pokemon or Animal Crossing seems to be popular to kids, but also a older (20's) group.

  • Azazel #179 3 years ago

    Fucking hell at the comments.

    I mean really.

    FUCKING HELL.

    Quoted for truth.

  • captainrentboy #180 3 years ago

    Smelly's still fucking everyone off then?..... God he's boring.

  • Stoatboy #181 3 years ago

    This comments thread has been a wonderful clusterfuck. Well done everyone responsible. No one looks like a twat after that little lot - honest. :D

    @TheComedian: Here's a Scribblenauts link for ya. The second vid where Joe Public gets to play with it is the better of 'em. Enjoy.

    http://ww w.offworld.com/2009/06/e309-scr...

  • Christian_Otte #182 3 years ago

    Which Uncharted video was it that made the audience gasp?

  • davisorle #183 3 years ago

    Keep bitching about Natal, more ppl get to know about new tech that way or they would bury it cause fanboys like u screw everything up other than ur own heads. lol. Keep on bitching about it . Lets see when ull wanna "play" the same way when good tittles come out for that and only and you wont be able to play how much ull be bitching till u realise how much fanboism is killing gaming judgement. Oh, Might be when the asians bring out the first tittle with a virtual chick that responds to you and gets naked. might be the onl ychance for you to get interested into this.. lol i wouldnt doupt it really. Kids i tall ya

  • Les #184 3 years ago

    "Jesus, EG's lost it. Seriously, Mario!?"

    Would rather interpret it as the tiniest glimmer of hope...