Its just not a good E3 unless the biggest companies in the world hold a press conference. conference dates. I’m speaking of course of Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.

When these companies hold their annual speech at E3, it single handedly (or triple handedly) decides the future of the gaming industry for years to come. So its extremely important that they each come out with new, exciting and affordable details on games and advancements.

But did any of these companies accomplish these goals? Did one company have a better presser than the rest? There are clear winners in the press conference battles but did Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft actually WIN the press conference battle?

Hit the title/read more to check out how each company did and what it means for gaming...



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I’m a sucker for anything Zelda so when it was announced that this year is the 25th anniversary of the famous franchise, you had to know Nintendo would be doing something to celebrate the occasion.

In the opening of Nintendo’s press conference, they showed off Zelda throughout the 25 years to the background of a live orchestra playing the theme songs and other notable songs such as the song for solving a puzzle, opening a treasure chest/finding an item, fairy fountain melody (my favorite) and finding a heart. This same orchestra will be traveling across the world to hold a concert for Zelda music in addition to releasing both a cd of the orchestra music and another compilation of the actual Zelda music.

Along with the iconic music, Nintendo will also launch a golden 25th anniversary edition of the Wii mote that is sure to earn them another billion dollars. But enough about the extras, let’s get to the meat, THE GAME!

The holiday release for Zelda is one that everyone will put on preorder and will probably be the first time I dust off my Wii in over a year but its everything you should expect from one of Nintendo’s flagship titles: beautiful graphics (for the Wii anyway), excellent gameplay, tough puzzels and yes, music to make your heart swoon.

Watch the Zelda Skyward Sword gameplay trailer below and hit the title/read more if you want to check out the orchestra performing the new Zelda song live at E3!

 While most of us who follow gaming knew about the Wii 2 and assumed it would be debuted during E3, I’m not quite sure most of us expected to see the surprising controller that goes along with it.

The new 1080 HD Wii U is a play on the current name but its not a University, rather its pronounced “Wee You”. Nintendo made a strong emphasis on wanting to create a console for both the casual and hard core gamer market but specifically wants the console to be personally suited for you.

While the console looks suspiciously like a smaller Xbox, the iPad looking controller seems to be able to do it all. It has a 6.2 display touchscreen that can be used to play games, draw, switch files from the controller to the console, rumble feature and accelerometers, has a camera and microphone to allow for video chat, analog and traditional control pad with additional buttons up top for more skilled games like FPS along with other features.

Hit the title/read more to continue reading and see the Wii U controller in action...

WRITTEN BY FRANCIS SANTOS 

I’m not going to lie, I’ve been wringing my hands in anticipation for Bioshock Infinite.  For far too long all I’ve really had to go on was this:

E3 has brought us a wealth of new info on the long awaited Infinite title but if you haven’t kept up here’s a summary.  The game is set in the past, 1912 to be exact, on the airborne city of Colombia.  The United States has built Colombia as both a symbol of American technological superiority as well as a mobile superweapon.  

But all is not well in the streets of Colombia as two warring factions, the Founders and Vox Populi, are slowly destroying the city.  Players take on the role of Booker Dewitt, a former pinkerton agent hired to rescue Elizabeth, a young woman imprisoned within Colombia since childhood.  

Hit the title/read more to continue reading on Bioshock’s E3 appearance...

WRITTEN BY FRANCIS SANTOS

Overstrike is a new franchise being presented to us by Insomniac Games, the studio that brought us the Ratchet and Clank and Resistance.  

Presently there is little solid gameplay info but  we do have a trailer that serves as an intro to the playable team members: Brooks is the team leader and human tank, Jacob close combat specialist, Naya an assassin with a cloaking field, and Isabel... who I’m not certain what her specialty is but she packs a gun that shoots that black goo they used to capture Mr. Incredible.  

Overstrike seems to be closer to Ratchet and Clank than Resistance in feel as it includes zany, outlandish weaponry and a pervasive sense of humor.  

Overstrike is dubbed as a 4 person co-op action game and is definitely reminiscent of class-based shooters such as the ever popular Team Fortress 2.  

I’ve been a fan of co-op oriented shooters since the days of the original Team Fortress and the ill fated Brute Force, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for any further developments on this one.

Hit the title/read more to check out the E3 trailer for Overstrike...

Shooters set in WW2 always seem to be a dime a dozen. But when Brothers in Arms: Furious Four was shown with an axe being thrown into someone’s skull within the first 5 seconds of game play, its safe to say they had many gamers attention right off the bat.

But that’s not all, the bloody trailer also featured someone getting electrocuted in the balls, getting the state of Texas branded on their forehead and another axe being thrown into someone’s back like Mel Gibson in The Patriot.

Scheiße

While not much of the gameplay was revealed, I have a particular affinity towards shooters that have a Gears of War or Bulletstorm feel and this game definately projects that. Here's hoping the actual game play shown later on confirms that.

Watch the launch trailer below for the 2012 release of Brothers in Arms...

Its no secret that Sony has a steamy love affair with 3D as most of their products rely heavily on the technology. It’s also widely known that 3D, while impressive, isn’t cost effective for the average family.

But that’s all about to change because Sony announced a new bundle during their presser that will combine a 24inch 3D TV, Playstation branded 3D glasses, a 6 foot HDMI cable and a copy of Resistance all for $499.

While I could do without the Resistance game (I prefer Gears of War honestly), the best part about this deal is the 3D glasses which has a special technology that allows you play co-op with your friends but instead of loooking at a split screen, your actually seeing a full screen display via the glasses.

The new bundle will be released this Fall.  Watch IGN’s video below...

I’m not one to particularly care for a handheld gaming device. Why? Because when I have time to game, I prefer to do console based gaming at home or at a friend’s house.

But the newly dubbed Playstation Vita (pronounced “veeta” also known as PSV) may change my mind. The new sleek portable gaming device will launch with a slew of games including a new Uncharted/God of War, has a variety of features like two touch screens, analog controls, a six axis motion sensing equipment and much more.

The best part about the debut of the PSV is when the price point was announced to much applause at the live presser. Two models will be released this holiday season, a WIFI only model for $249 and a 3G AT&T serviced model for $299. Its important to note that the audience did not care for the AT&T partnership AT ALL.

Of course there is much more news, games and trailers to talk about than what I mentioned above.  

Hit the title/read more to check out the rest of the PS Vita details and the launch trailer....

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 Many Sony fans were curious as to how they would kick off the first major press conference since the infamous Hack Gate that ended a few weeks ago that left the PSN down for a little over 20 days.

Sony referred to it as "elephant in the room" first and foremost in the press conference and apologized to developers, publishers and retailers for the frustration while thanking the fans that have continued to stay around even after the hack at a rate of over 90%. I liked that Sony got all of this out of the way first  because right after the apology is when they started talking my language: Uncharted baby.

Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception is the reason you should own a PS3. Its a smart, action packed shooter that focuses on history Indiana Jones/Tombraider style. In the newest installment, the trailer featured at E3 has Nathan Drake starting off very sneaky, almost Splinter Cell like, before the real action begins and you start shooting up what looks like a cargo ship that is clearly going to sink.

While I already know I will be purchasing this holiday release, I honestly feel sorry for those who have never played this franchise. If you haven’t pick yourself up a copy of 1 or 2 and you will soon understand the obsession that will eventually turn into a movie (with the proper cast- God willing)

Hit the title/read more to check out the new gameplay footage of Uncharted that debuted at Sony’s E3 presser...


 

When the trailer for EA’s Battlefield 3 hit the press conference, my immediate reaction was “oh here we go, another genaric shooter trying to be like MW3”. But boy was I put in my place.

Turns out, the previous PC exclusive title that will be making its first appearance on a console has MUCH more to offer than a standard shooter. During the press conference it was being pitched to gamers as the “Best FPS shooter this holiday”, its a “step up from MW3“ and will have free social features with the game that MW3 is wants you to pay for.

When I hinted at my intial yawning over this title, I was quickly put into place by @BoPhilpot on Twitter when he said “bf blows COD away, dedicated servers, no killstreaks, bullet drops over distance. Helicopters, jeeps, ATVs, jets, tanks, jet-skis boats. Not to mention destructible environments including complete buildings”.

Well then, guess I will have to pick up this title since I am now convinced of its superiority.

Hit the title/read more to check out the tank based demo of Battlefield 3 at E3...