The E3 2011 thread

[cidbahamut]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

Wii U controller revealed | Joystiq


Icemage

That layout looks kinda silly. Also it looks like it'll be a bit awkward to hold. Did we learn nothing of ergonomics over the last few decades? Comfy controllers are a good thing.

[Absentia]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

I like the Wii U. The controller layout didn't deter me at all. The tech demo was quite pretty; enjoyed the cherry blossoms. :3

I also liked the look of Super Mario 3D. I'm actually pretty pumped for Nintendo this time around.

[Malacite]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

We still haven't even seen the console yet either.

Is it just going to be a revamped Wii with HDMI ports? And what about the online? If it's more of the same friend code bullshit I'll pass tyvm, and wait for the new PS/Xbox. They need to have a proper network like XBL, though hopefully it'll be free like PSN because I'm not paying for two subscriptions.

That HD Zelda footage was freaking amazing, and I loved the first few minutes of the show with the band & everything - but otherwise towards the end I lost a lot of enthusiasm. None of the big 3 really wowed me this year. They all had cool stuff to show, but nothing that blew my mind.

And yes, wtf @ Analog nubs & placing them above the face buttons & D-Pad... really hoping that isn't the final design. This shit can't possibly be cheap either.


I'd say over all E3 = B- . I give them effort for trying but apart from a few surprise trailers like Halo 4, was not terribly impressed.

[Armando]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

"Isn't that the sound the chick from KUNG POW made?" Best comment I've read so far regarding the WiiU's name.

I don't know how to feel about a new Smash Bros game. A small part of me is excited, the other part of me is telling me I'm being set up for more disappointment.

[DakAttack]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

It doesn't look terrible, to me. The controller looks nifty, but I can't imagine the screen and camera being used in every single game. I imagine they'll produce a few basic controllers without all the bells and whistles. The console itself looks to be about as small as the Wii, so I can't imagine they've upgraded the hardware much, if at all.

[Malacite]

Re: The E3 2011 thread




Nintendo showing off prototype Wii U demos at E3 this week | Joystiq

Nintendo just announced the Wii U on stage at its E3 press conference, and while the new controller is interesting, we're all wondering just how powerful this "HD" console is. Game Informer's seen the demos shown off on stage in person, and apparently it's about as nice as you'd imagine: Not quite as high quality as the other HD consoles, but definitely better than the standard Wii.

Nintendo doesn't have actual games to show yet, but there are a few interactive demos running. Chase Mii has Mario characters running around a maze and uses the Wii U controller's screen to track other players in the game. Battle Mii uses traditional Wii controllers as well as the Wii U controller, and GI says controls are a little tighter and quicker than the traditional Wii can handle (though the gyroscope in the new, presumably still a work in progress, controller is still a little awkward). Finally, Shield Pose has you moving the Wii controller around to try and block called shots coming in from a pirate ship, and is supposed to be fun in a sort of follow-the-leader way.

We'll look for all three demos on the show floor this week, so stay tuned for our own impressions on just what the Wii U can and can't do so far. There's not a lot of information available yet (the Wii U is due sometime in 2012, and there's no price listed at all), but already it looks like the Wii U will definitely shake up console gaming.

Update: The Guardian also got to play with the Wii U, and says the console will be HD via HDMI, and have internal Flash memory, along with SD and USB solutions for adding more. The system will be backwards-compatible with the Wii (which we heard at the press event), and play both discs and downloadable software.

[Absentia]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

I'm not really seeing where console size would dictate its power.

[DakAttack]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

I'm not really seeing where console size would dictate its power.

Something the size of a Wii would not be large enough to properly handle the amount of heat produced by current hardware.

[Armando]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

The console itself looks to be about as small as the Wii, so I can't imagine they've upgraded the hardware much, if at all.

To be fair, the Wii is about 4.5 years old. By Moore's Law, the number of transistors you can inexpensively cram into the same chip area doubles every 2 years. So by now you could have about 5.65 times the number of transistors you could 4.5 years ago. That doesn't mean you're going to get a console 5.65 times more powerful, but it's unreasonable to think they haven't upgraded the hardware much - especially since the Wii capped at 480p, while 1080p has 6.75 times the amount of pixels to render. Just look at the difference in graphics power between the 3DS and the DS.

You're correct on the size/power issue though. At that size it's unlikely to run hot, much like the Wii, so they're still being conservative by today's standards. That's probably for the best anyhow, since the controller won't be cheap, regardless of how many of them you need.

EDIT: And honestly, I think we've reached a ridiculous level of realism with the 360 and PS3. Anything more than that is pretty excessive in my eyes, at least until TV resolutions increase drastically again. I'm not even sure developers could continue to afford to develop games with even higher levels of detail.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

Also, $100+ controller? 6.2" LCD screens that can transcode an HD stream can't be cheap, and we know Nintendo never sells hardware at a loss.

That's an interesting way of saying it, but complete Wiimote/Move + Nunchucks already cost a pretty penny Dual Shock 3 is like the price of a game. I think its actually 360 that's the cheapest on controllers right now.

At any rate, I'm fairly sure its not the finalized controller, as people have been commenting it doesn't feel like something that would bit retail. There's still time to change the analog nubs around.

Personally, I would have gone with the analog pads like 3DS has, as I find 360's about right and DS3's dual analog too loose (but I'm getting used to it).. Nintendo's CC Pro feels about about right where the DS2 was, just minus rumble.

the problem with the analog nub on PSP for me was placement and the fact that a crumb or dust could get in there and fuck the controls. I'd eventually be able to work whatever it was out, but Sony could have bothered to build the nub to prevent foreign objects from getting inside.

All that said - what's to say something like Batman Arkham City wouldn't have touch based attacks like Uncharted for Vita?

[Absentia]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

To be fair, the Wii is about 4.5 years old. By Moore's Law, the number of transistors you can inexpensively cram into the same chip area doubles every 2 years. So by now you could have about 5.65 times the number of transistors you could 4.5 years ago. That doesn't mean you're going to get a console 5.65 times more powerful, but it's unreasonable to think they haven't upgraded the hardware much - especially since the Wii capped at 480p, while 1080p has 6.75 times the amount of pixels to render. Just look at the difference in graphics power between the 3DS and the DS.

You're correct on the size/power issue though. At that size it's unlikely to run hot, much like the Wii, so they're still being conservative by today's standards. That's probably for the best anyhow, since the controller won't be cheap, regardless of how many of them you need.

EDIT: And honestly, I think we've reached a ridiculous level of realism with the 360 and PS3. Anything more than that is pretty excessive in my eyes, at least until TV resolutions increase drastically again. I'm not even sure developers could continue to afford to develop games with even higher levels of detail.

I hate how a lot of the 'next gen' games have a weird gloss on them, as if that adds to some sort of realism. "Ok.. this blanket isn't next gen enough, let's make shine like a freshly painted car!"

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

Nintendo eShop just had its third update today

I'll break it down in total:

3D Classic: Excitebike (free til july 7th)
Pokedex 3D - basically a streetpass/AR game where you collect all the pokemon from B/W version (free)

Virtual Console:

Super Mario Land $3.99
Alleyway $2.99
Radar Mission $2.99
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening $5.99

E3 3DS videos:

Zelda OOT3D
Mario Kart
Luigi's Mansion 2
Super Mario
Kid Icarus Uprising
Star Fox 64 3D
Paper Mario
Animal Crossing
Metal Gear Solid 3D Snake Eater
Resident Evil Revelations

And every DSiWare game ever with a streaming video demo of every DSiWare game ever

[Armando]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

$6 seems a bit steep for Link's Awakening.

Also, what's up with that free Four Swords thing I'm hearing about?

[Malacite]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

EDIT: And honestly, I think we've reached a ridiculous level of realism with the 360 and PS3. Anything more than that is pretty excessive in my eyes, at least until TV resolutions increase drastically again. I'm not even sure developers could continue to afford to develop games with even higher levels of detail.

Need I remind you?

[Absentia]

Re: The E3 2011 thread

$6 seems a bit steep for Link's Awakening.

Also, what's up with that free Four Swords thing I'm hearing about?

I was under the assumption that it was for the press at the conference. Though I probably misheard the announcement. ><