VGT at E3: First 2 hours PS3 & Wii impressions.
05-10-06, 01:21 PM
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VGT at E3: First 2 hours PS3 & Wii impressions.
Taking a break from the show floor. I just pushed through the masses waiting to get into this crazy joint. Anyway, I've played the PS3 and the Wii at this point.
PS3:
Playable PS3's are not on the show floor. Instead, the displays & controllers are hooked up to massive servers beside in the middle of each display unit.
Gran Turismo HD is 20% done. The playable demo offered a little taste of driving everything from Model T's to Dodge Vipers. While the cars look amazing in HD, the tracks are a bit lifeless. It looks a little strange in motion. But the gameplay is the same as the rest of the series.
Warhawk is a futuristic flight shooter game that's 30% done. The controls were a bit loose, but the gameplay is similar to Crimson Skies with better optics.
Virtua Tennis 3 was 20% done. The game looked on par with Top Spin 2 for the 360, but the gameplay wasn't anywhere near close. The controls were unresponsive.
The most complete game on the floor is Resistance Fall of Man. It's 70% done. It's a military FPS game that looks on par with Call of Duty 2 graphics for the 360. Kind of fun to play, but no where near Gears of War quality.
Overall, the first gen of PS3 games looked on par with the first gen of 360 games. There isn't a huge improvement in graphical power. Also, all the games were using the PS2 dual shock controller.
Wii
The controller is just tiny. I wasn't prepared for how small is actually was until I held it. It's also tough to get a hang of, but then again, I was moving quickly through the booth. Nintendo heavily focused on the unique qualities of the controller opposed to focusing on graphical prowess like Sony.
Metroid 3 Corruption was probably the best looking game for the Wii. The controls were split between using one hand for movement and the other for the auxiliary functions like shooting, rolling, etc.
Super Mario Galaxy was insanely fun to play once I got the controls down. Mario is going from planet to planet in this rendition of Mario. The graphics were colorful and quite vibrant on HD sets.
Legend of Zelda was the game I most wanted to play. Zelda was the game that used the controller for the most functions. For instance, fishing with Zelda used the right unit of the controller to cast the line and the left to reel it in. Firing arrows, swinging your sword, using the shield to block were all incredibly fun to act out as well as see on the screen. No cel shading in sight, btw.
There were other games for the Wii such as Madden 07, Tennis, Orchestra, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz, and Bomberman, but I haven't gone hands on with them yet.
Overall, the Wii looks to be the extra console to own if you have a PS3 or 360. The Nintendo reps continued to stress the console will be "affordable". It will be interesting to see if this controller will catch on and people won't feel self-conscious using it. I felt a bit goofy going through the motions, but I'm sure everyone did as well.
Ok, that's it for me for now. I've got an appointment to see Guitar Hero soon and tons of MS appointments later today.
PS3:
Playable PS3's are not on the show floor. Instead, the displays & controllers are hooked up to massive servers beside in the middle of each display unit.
Gran Turismo HD is 20% done. The playable demo offered a little taste of driving everything from Model T's to Dodge Vipers. While the cars look amazing in HD, the tracks are a bit lifeless. It looks a little strange in motion. But the gameplay is the same as the rest of the series.
Warhawk is a futuristic flight shooter game that's 30% done. The controls were a bit loose, but the gameplay is similar to Crimson Skies with better optics.
Virtua Tennis 3 was 20% done. The game looked on par with Top Spin 2 for the 360, but the gameplay wasn't anywhere near close. The controls were unresponsive.
The most complete game on the floor is Resistance Fall of Man. It's 70% done. It's a military FPS game that looks on par with Call of Duty 2 graphics for the 360. Kind of fun to play, but no where near Gears of War quality.
Overall, the first gen of PS3 games looked on par with the first gen of 360 games. There isn't a huge improvement in graphical power. Also, all the games were using the PS2 dual shock controller.
Wii
The controller is just tiny. I wasn't prepared for how small is actually was until I held it. It's also tough to get a hang of, but then again, I was moving quickly through the booth. Nintendo heavily focused on the unique qualities of the controller opposed to focusing on graphical prowess like Sony.
Metroid 3 Corruption was probably the best looking game for the Wii. The controls were split between using one hand for movement and the other for the auxiliary functions like shooting, rolling, etc.
Super Mario Galaxy was insanely fun to play once I got the controls down. Mario is going from planet to planet in this rendition of Mario. The graphics were colorful and quite vibrant on HD sets.
Legend of Zelda was the game I most wanted to play. Zelda was the game that used the controller for the most functions. For instance, fishing with Zelda used the right unit of the controller to cast the line and the left to reel it in. Firing arrows, swinging your sword, using the shield to block were all incredibly fun to act out as well as see on the screen. No cel shading in sight, btw.
There were other games for the Wii such as Madden 07, Tennis, Orchestra, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz, and Bomberman, but I haven't gone hands on with them yet.
Overall, the Wii looks to be the extra console to own if you have a PS3 or 360. The Nintendo reps continued to stress the console will be "affordable". It will be interesting to see if this controller will catch on and people won't feel self-conscious using it. I felt a bit goofy going through the motions, but I'm sure everyone did as well.
Ok, that's it for me for now. I've got an appointment to see Guitar Hero soon and tons of MS appointments later today.
Last edited by Flay; 05-10-06 at 01:24 PM.
05-10-06, 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by pinata242
Good to know!
I'm a little confused... If playable PS3's weren't on the show floor, how exactly were you playing those games with a PS2 controller?
I'm a little confused... If playable PS3's weren't on the show floor, how exactly were you playing those games with a PS2 controller?
Also, I forgot to mention Nintendo had playable Wii's.
05-10-06, 01:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Grimfarrow
No Heavenly Sword???? Boooo...
05-10-06, 02:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Liver&Onions
Interesting...playable PS3 games on Dev units. Sounds fishy.
Keep up the great work and hand on reports Flay!
Keep up the great work and hand on reports Flay!
05-10-06, 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
Interesting. Could Sept./Oct. be feasible? I like the sound of that.
05-10-06, 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by chess
Looks like they are still doing some fine-tuning on both the conroller and moreso on the software. I'd like to give them whatever time they need to tighten things up. The quality and interface for this first wave of games will be crucial to what Nintendo seems to be trying to do (i.e. making this a must have gadget for Everyone). If the control is off in any way, and the press picks up on it, it could be over.
05-10-06, 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by tenaciousdave
Not that fishy really, MS was using dev units at E3 05.
05-10-06, 03:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
Good point. Like always at launch though, you KNOW the first party titles will be tight. It is the third parties that need the extra time.
05-10-06, 03:30 PM
#17
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Originally Posted by PixyJunket
*writes on a pink post-it-note: Save vaction time for October*
I laugh because I took the week off after the 360 came out. I won't be able to do the same this year as I(the wife) am expecting our second child in early August so vacation time will be spent during that time.
05-10-06, 03:36 PM
#18
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
I laugh because I took the week off after the 360 came out. I won't be able to do the same this year as I(the wife) am expecting our second child in early August so vacation time will be spent during that time.
Congratulation on the kid, by the way!
05-10-06, 03:43 PM
#19
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Originally Posted by Josh Hinkle
Honestly, I don't care about 3rd party titles at Wii launch. Zelda and Virtual Console would be enough, and I'll be overwhelmed as is if Mario and Metroid are also launch titles.
05-10-06, 03:47 PM
#21
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^isn't the gamecube dead? I know it is wrong to do, but I'd write off that system and put all my eggs into the Wii. It's not like Gamecube sales are lighting the world on fire. Sell what's out there and move on. Make all current projects Wii projects.
05-10-06, 03:52 PM
#23
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Originally Posted by pinata242
Super Paper Mario is (currently) a Gamecube title. I can't imagine they'll push that for the Wii.
05-10-06, 04:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
But not Wii controller compatable.
Otherwise, I'm sure it would play well with the virtual console controller.