There is such a thing as a free lunch.

The Nintendo of US upper brass didn’t individually hand write their signatures over thousands of times, but hey it’s the thought that counts, especially when I wasn’t entirely kind to their press conference. On reflection though, their smile seminar wasn’t half as embarrassing as Microsoft’s attempt to be Nintendo in their ‘hip to the casual market’ pitch. Sony was reserved by comparison, though you’d think they would know better than to use pre-rendered footage by now.

Seeing the photos of upcoming Leipzig game convention has given me a jealous streak. E3 was fun and all, but no one could argue it was drab. No more towering booths, no more banners, just a few hastily thrown up decorations to keep it feeling too much like a college lan party. Why couldn’t the US have gotten the faux skyscrapers for Mirror’s Edge or the cardboard vault for Fallout 3? Would it have really killed the publishers and organizers to throw up a few banners in the hall? At least there were stacks of free lunches.

A brief look at two of EA’s upcoming iPhone releases.

I might have to pick up an iPhone this year. I feel like the consumer who walks into a wireless store, gushing as if his life will be incomplete unless he owns the latest and greatest. Well, that’s basically how I felt after having a small sample of EA’s offerings, which should delight existing users and newcomers alike.

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Post-E3 reflections, Sega breaks our hearts, and more.

E3 2008 has been the subject of many discussions in the gaming world this week.  Last week, I spoke of my disappointment with E3 from an outsider’s perspective; as you can see in the comments below that piece, TNL editors who were in attendance had a markedly different take on the matter.

But what about outside the TNL universe?  I did some rather thorough research (which means I spent over an hour Googling “E3 2008 sucked” and “E3 2008 awesome”), and the results are varied.  Here are some highlights: (more…)

“See you next year…” (We can only hope).

I used to look forward to reading that statement proudly held from the ceilings of the LACC. Of course, the large-scale event that many of us came to cherish and love is no more. Now the event has been fashioned as a drastically toned-down event where the media is treated to a fraction of the games due to the limited amount of companies who attend. As this year’s E3 has come to an end, a buzz about its future is already brewing.

Many attendees expressed mixed feelings toward ESA’s “scaled down” version of E3 relocated to the Los Angeles Convention Center. It was also impossible to overlook how drab and empty the LACC looked. I was very disappointed to find there wasn’t even so much as one piece of marketing material peppered throughout the halls to add some flair. C’mon… was it too much trouble to toss up a couple of signs?

The good ol‘ days…

With good reason, some are speculating E3 could be finally on its last legs. Reportedly, an ESA representative hinted that there would be “at least one more showing next year,” however no specific details were outlined. IGN did some digging and learned from LACC personnel that the ESA hasn’t booked space at this time, which suggests they’re planning to adjust the scheduling or, perhaps, it’s being relocated somewhere else. Here’s something of interest, though: it seems that a smaller convention event is being planned for early July. A rebirth of E 4 All, perhaps? Only time will tell.

Personally, I’d love an excuse to chill in Santa Monica, but spending hours in that hangar bay is going to leave me somewhat disappointed.
Source: IGN

This blog article should be recognized as the sole opinion of the editor and does not necessarily reflect TNL’s official position on the subject.

The E3 that may as well not have been.

It’s time for our first Week in Review of the new TNL era, and the big story is E3.  Actually, the real big story is that E3 has come and gone and there’s almost nothing new to talk about.  Let’s try anyways.

Microsoft: The only meaningful Megaton Announcement of the week came from this corner of the woods, as it was confirmed that Final Fantasy XIII will being seeing an Xbox 360 release.  While this news will have no bearing whatsoever on anything in Japan, it does have significant ramifications for those Americans who beat off to anything relating to Japan.

Sony: God of War III is coming.  Nobody is surprised.  Home is in limbo.  Nobody is surprised.  An 80GB PS3 will be replacing the 40GB PS3 at the previous retail price of the 40GB PS3 and … I give up.  Moving right along.

Nintendo: The Big N took the art of disappointing their fan base to exciting new levels this year.  Animal Crossing: City Folk was displayed, and it sports a very striking look that really speaks to me. More specifically, it says “we don’t give a shit anymore,” but that’s neither here nor there.

In addition to not showing off any real games, Nintendo announced the Wii MotionPlus, a little doohickey that attaches to your Wiimote and enhances how your movements are interpreted.  Will it be required to play future third-party games?  If so, to what extent?  And how will we know which Wiimote will be needed for which game?  The company which has so often touted the virtues of simplicity just continues to impress.

In conclusion: I never imagined that I would be so bored with E3.  An event once famous for industry-shaking announcements and copious images of girls with gravity-defying assets has become a sad, sad shell of its former self.

This blog article should be recognized as the sole opinion of the editor, based on media coverage, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the TNL editors that were in attendance at the show.