No show yet but a busy start anyway.

While E3 starts tomorrow (or technically a handful of hours as I write this) it unofficially kicked in today with a handful of press conferences.  Microsoft, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft all had things to announce, some more impressive than others.

Microsoft kicked off the day with a press conference so incredibly exciting that Nick, Travis, Aaron and I all gave up simultaneously and went to Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles instead.  From a personal perspective there were two things that caught my eye, namely Crackdown 2 and Shadow Complex.  The latter especially looks like it has a lot of potential, thanks to its unashamed Metroid/Castlevania influences.  Crackdown 2 didn’t have enough shown to get by on anything other than brand-name, though.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Microsoft’s camera control, Project Natal.  This looks more than a little silly, and not very fun at all.  Why would I want to move menus around with arm gestures when a few pokes at a controller does the same thing?  Why would I want my dashboard avatar to mimick my body movements?  Do we really need virtual friends like Milo?  And finally, do I really want to flail around my apartment in the fashion necessary to have full control of whatever games may come out for it?  I’m not feeling the optimism at the moment.

EA and Ubisoft both fared much better.  EA specifically was focused on games, games, and nothing but games, making a refreshing change from Microsoft’s social netowork integration and Ubisoft’s bizarre belief that the Hollywood skillset somehow makes for better gaming.

Take Brutal Legend, for example.  If Jack Black wasn’t involved this would still look like a complete blast.  There’s no Hollywood at all in Saboteur and it looks like a wonderfully fun stealth action game, especially seeing as it adds large explosions to the genre.  What movies have to offer games is endless experience in visual storytelling and the talent to present it, but that’s only one part of the overall gaming experience.

Still, it’s not like Ubisoft didn’t have a few goodies to show off.  None of them were Beyond Good & Evil 2, unfortunately, but Rabbids Go Home looks funny as hell so that’s ok.  A real surprise was Red Steel 2, which looks like it has the potential to make up for the pain caused by its predecessor.  I’m already sold on the Rabbids so may not devote much time to them on the show floor, but Red Steel 2’s improved style and more integrated swordplay makes it look like it might become the game Red Steel 1 wanted to be.

While all three companies had much more to say and show off, this is what stuck with me today.  The endless river of info has started flowing and it’s only possible to soak in a certain amount at one time.  In 6.5 hours the Nintendo conference begins, and then it’s off to the show floor for complete gaming submersion.  It’s going to be a very busy day.