Quick thoughts on E3 2010
With Microsoft and Sony playing catch-up to Nintendo each with their own version of motion control, it was easy for Nintendo to steal the bacon. While Sony and Microsoft both attempted to wow us with their new hardware, which promises to make us feel more physically invested and involved in games, Nintendo instead focused on games. Promising a new Zelda, new Kirby, a new Donkey Kong Country, new Metroid, and a remake of Goldeneye 007.
I’m not trying to say that Microsoft and Sony didn’t give us anything to be excited about because they certainly did. Microsoft’s main highlights were when they debuted sequels to their most popular franchises Halo and Gears of War. Gears of War 3 is going to feature 4 player campaign mode which looks pretty awesome. Sony’s biggest highlights came from sequels to their younger franchises Infamous, Dead Space, and Little Big Planet. As well as a return of an old classic, Twisted Metal, whose multiplayer features might have you busy for hours.
We’re coming to a changing of the guard, where developers are excited to be rid of the confines of the typical controller, and are now experimenting with the limits of motion control games. Unfortunately we might have to endure a slew of crappy games until the industry molds to what works and what doesn’t. It would be foolish think there wasn’t a learning curve with these things. One motion control game that worries me is The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. I’m concerned about gamer’s stamina. To exhaust a Zelda title of all of its features can at times take 40+ hours. When the effort of a sword swing, bomb throw, or arrow shot is increased from a simple button combination to actual motions done performed by you, I worry that those 2-4 hour games will be a lot more tiring. Tiring to the point where effort verse return value might slip to the other side of the proverbial line, because if this happens and the effort of playing the game is greater than the entertainment value received from playing it then we’re going to see a lot of unfinished quests. This would be a terrible thing. I’m hoping in the future that there will be two types of games in for each system, motion control games and classic controller games, because sometimes I just want to sit back relax and let my character do all the work.
What was the most disappointing or exciting parts of E3 for you?
