Console Discussion/E3/Tokyo Game Show Thread
 

Thought it would be a good idea to start up a conference discussion thread to avoid watering down the video games thread too much. The Sony and MS conferences are tomorrow.

Here's a pretty good listing of some of the games we'll see quite a bit of in the coming days.

The Road to E3 2013 - Games

Hoping for info on corgi DLC for CoD Ghosts.

Or what I'm actually most looking forward to from that list.

Four big conferences today. Microsoft and EA conferences on Spike TV if you want to watch at home or streaming all conferences at multiple sites online.

E3 2013 All-Access Programming Schedule for GT, Spike TV | Side Mission | GameTrailers

Microsoft - 12:00 PM EDT

EA - 4:00 PM EDT

Ubisoft - 6:00 PM EDT

Sony - 9:00 PM EDT

Going to be a pretty informative day. If we don't have a lot more answers about both consoles by the end of the day, there's some big problems.

Anyone know of any live blogging?

I'm watching a stream and will post stuffs! I don't know if we know any of this already....

MGS 5 on Xbox

2 free games per month for Xbox Live Gold members, starting July 1st.

They mentioned Assassin's Creed 2 and Halo 3. So, doesn't sound like the titles are going to be earth shattering.

I'm watching on Spike now, but I'm about 20-30 minutes behind. Great opening video for MGS5 on Xbox - I'm very impressed with couple of minutes of gameplay they showed.

This console really is the XBrone. This presser has been dude-bro culture all the way through so far.

I never picked up AC2, so I'm happy about that.

Dark Souls 2 coming to Xbox.

Ryse: Son of Rome is a new Xbox 1 exclusive launch title. Interesting looking game where you control a Roman General.

Forza 5 shown in action includes "drivatar" that replaces AI and allows you to play against your friends "drivatars" with their driving style even when they aren't available to play online. Best trailer yet for me, but I've always been a fan of the series.

They showed off several independent developer's games and talked about their continued support for independent developers.

Project Spark is a game/tool that can be used to develop games.

They showed off Smart Glass Interaction, Game DVR, ability to upload DVR game highlights to friends, and Killer Instinct. They also showed off how friends can watch your gameplay while you play.

They are getting rid of Microsoft points and pricing everything in local currency.

Xbox Gold membership automatically transfer over to the new console.

Also, anyone in your household can share one Xbox Live account.

They just showed off Crimson Dragon a new Xbox One Exclusive - very short clip but showed dragon aerial combat.

Dead Rising 3 premiere followed right after.

I haven't watched most E3's (rare that I'm off when they are happening), but it seems like Microsoft is going very heavy on gameplay footage in this conference which makes sense considering the criticism from their last event.

Dead Rising 3 looks AMAZING.

Full review on 8 bit mind, but meh to a meh minus. Decent enough, but they are too far in a hole thanks to the repeated foot-gun incidents of the past few weeks.

That moment of silence where they announced that the X1 console would release at $499 was deafening.

Yeah, $499 is Game Over, you lose Microsoft.

Witcher 3 footage shown. Will use smart glass integration. It will be the last game of the trilogy. Completely open world.

The only thing worse was the uncomfortable smile from the guy on stage when that moment of silence happened. Although it does make it pretty clear why they are trying to show quite a few options for the 360 for the next year or two.

They had issues getting the Battlefield 4 footage to play. Audience heckling as a result. They finally got it to play. The level of realism of the graphics are really impressive, but not my type of game.

They then showed What Lies Below, a rogue game that looks much more interesting to me.

Microsoft is investing in 5 new studios to develop AAA games exclusive for Xbox.

Pretty amusing exchange on G4 post-game. Host asked the two analysts about what they took from the conference. One said '$499?' and the other made comments saying maybe Microsoft will have a program where they subsidize the price for gamers who can't afford that price point.

I don't see that happening.

The belief was that there'd be a $299 + mandatory 2 year subscription to Xbox Live.. but if you have to be online all the time ANYWAY.. doesn't make sense.

Titanfall footage which is another new Xbox exclusive to end the Microsoft conference.

The 499 dollar price point doesn't bother me. As the Spike analysts are saying, it is a lot cheaper than a super powered gaming computer and it has a lot of power. I spend a lot more money on a new computer every few years, and I'll get one of the consoles at launch. I think Microsoft had a good conference other than the Battlefield 4 glitch and the guy stumbling over the price points.

I'm on the fence right now which console I'll get at launch and it will probably depend upon which one my closest friends get.

The other obvious part of the MS conference was what we didn't hear. They didn't offer any further explanation or clarification on the used games issue. That's not going to help at all, especially if they do a $500 console and a $60 game price point.

Sony can do wonders tonight for themselves by talking about used games and coming in at a $400 or less price point.

Forbes summed it up well for me:

Alright this game is nice and all, but we have to talk about that price point. It’s obvious why they didn’t close with it. I thought they wanted to get one of these in every home to serve as an “entertainment box.” No non-gamer is going to shell out $500 for it. No way. Even avid gamers will have to think twice at launch. If the Playstation 4 really is $400 the way many have been predicting, that’s going to be a HUGE benefit for them. I have to imagine Kinect really drove the price of this up, and that could be a big mistake.

Live Blog: Microsoft's Xbox One E3 Press Conference - Forbes

Yeah, unless they're still going to have "Xbox Live Silver" or something equivalent, that makes no sense. Everything they've announced so far points to Live being required to use the console even though they haven't actually SAID that. I think they feel like they've thrown themselves on enough grenades for one 30-day period.

Amazon just switched all X1 game placeholders to a $59.99 price point. Guess that answers the questions as to whether we'd see any price reduction to offset no used games.

Is $500 for the XBox One & Kinect REALLY all that much?

In case anyone was looking for a life feed, IGN has one on their front page all day long with all news conferences.

If they were allowing used games sales, absolutely not. If you're eliminating that option, absolutely. That graph is apples to oranges.

"Hey, let's compare the Xbox One to the Intellivision in price"

Really?

Disingenuous on a couple of levels.

First, they're adjusting for inflation using the highest price point for PS3 and the lowest price point for Wii U, which immediately makes you wonder if they're massaging any of the other launch points (if, for example, some consoles had both bare-bones and bundled varieties at launch).

Second, look at the systems above $499, even adjusted for inflation and tell me how many commercial successes you see.

It just doesn't happen. That Sony managed to recover for a worldwide #2 is as much about Microsoft's absurd weakness in Japan as anything Sony did right in the aftermath.

Launching at $499, Microsoft has got a double shackle going on with Xbox One. First, they're going to get a cool reception at retail just on the price. Second, they're going to get absolutely shat on in Japan. Again. Are they even launching in Japan? I saw US, UK and EU prices, but nothing for Japan.

Last time around, they had the $100 price advantage and the year's lead time to have a better library waiting for PS3. This time, they're launching basically at parity with PlayStation 4 in the release window, so no immediate games advantage, and the possibility exists of Sony flipping the script on price later tonight.

If Sony announces a launch at $399 or less, the first year is going to be extraordinarily painful for Microsoft.

From what I read this might be only on the 360 until the One releases, not something permanent that will carry through to the One.

Disappointed that it sounds like they're still charging for multiplayer. Personally I won't be playing any mutliplayer games on console enough to warrant paying for a subscription though it's occasionally still something I'd like to do.

As far as exclusives go that was by far the best one that I saw. Ryse would be really interesting if it had actual combat instead of a series of quick time events.

So they fired the creator of Plants vs. Zombies, made 2 a free to play iOS game, and now a PvZ 3rd person shooter? Really doing everything they can to kill of the series, aren't they?

It's what EA does well.

So they're just gonna tease Battefront without taking about it? :(

NBA Live presentation is going down in flames.

Evidently it took a next gen console to develop one of the most advanced dribbling engines ever.

I think I see why they haven't released an NBA Live game in years.

Dear EA,

Football players stopping on a dime isn't adding realism.

Also, similar to NBA Live, it took a next gen console to program a running back to jump over a fallen defender. Amazing.

Yes, it is.

They have already said they will allow used games. It is up to the publisher if they will charge any fee or not.

Yay, mixed man punching stories.

That's code for "no used games but the blame isn't on us anymore despite the fact that we're facilitating the option for our publishers".

Let's not defend stupid, no matter who ends up taking the shaft on it.

OK, Bruce Buffer appearance. As bad as the NBA appearance was, the UFC is a win.

Edit: Is it sad that they appear more well-spoken than the NBA player?

This whole EA Sports segment has been painful.

Does the BF4 game have a lot more vehicles than COD games? I guess I've only played COD before and haven't stuck my toe in the BF franchise.