In less than one week, on July 14th, gamers around the world will once again lay witness to the biggest annual video game conference – a.k.a. the Electronic Entertainment Expo. Although the actual event has decreased in magnitude over the last couple of years, it still hails as the most exciting unveiling that the gaming industry has to offer. At every E3, the largest and smallest game publishers reveal their future company plans and in the end one lucky publisher gets the glory by having the best showcase. A few years ago, Nintendo won the showcase and the attention of millions with the unveiling of the innovative Nintendo Wii. A couple of years before that, the public got its first glance at Microsoft’s second installment, the XBOX 360. Hundreds of people pour into the expo to get the first hands-on with the newest and most anticipated games in development. Which publisher will steal the show at this E3? Which game developer will have the public drooling over its future releases? All these questions and more won’t be answered until the 14^th, but that won’t stop me from putting forth my two cents.

So, in order to prepare you for the upcoming E3, I’ve prepared a review for what to expect at Nintendo’s, Sony’s and Microsoft’s booths, as well as a few surprises that you might expect to see.

Behold the E3 in all its glory…Okay, I swear it looks way cooler when you’re actually inside the building.

Sony’s Conference

2009 could be the year that Sony regains control of the gaming world. Since its release in November of 2006, the Playstation 3 has undergone many makeovers and price changes. What started out as a high priced machine with no solid games has slowly shifted into the future of next gen graphics and power. With recent price cuts and Blu-ray laying waste to HD DVD, Sony has the upper hand going into next year. Priced as the most affordable Blu-ray player and pinned as the most technologically advanced of the three home consoles, the Playstation 3 has great potential to regain the public’s attention just like the PS2 did before it. With recent releases like Metal Gear Solid 4, upcoming blockbusters such as Resistance 2, Little Big Planet, God of War III, Grand Turismo 5 and most notably the future launch of Home (Sony’s online community), Sony is sitting fairly pretty trekking into the fall and 2009.

“Okay, so a bald guy, a monster and four little dudes walk into a bar……”
God of War III, Resistance 2 and Little Big Planet are three killer aps that may just hold the key to Sony’s future success.

Rumors are buzzing and everyone’s wondering…will Sony unveil the news on a successor to the PSP? It would seem like a logical step not only because the PSP has been out since 2005, but also because it’s currently getting thwomped by the Nintendo DS. Not to mention the several price cuts it has sustained in order to appeal to consumers.

Oh, and I’m sure we’ll be hearing news of more price cuts. Expect to see the PS2 and potentially the PSP drop in price again. News of a price cut for the PS3 is unlikely, but not necessarily unheard of.

From its release, the XBOX 360 has been the most popular buy for those wanting cutting edge graphics and true online play. Every game that’s made for multi-console purposes is rendered for the 360 first and then ported to the PS3. Yes, it’s true you have to pay to play online, but if you really want to experience the best online options available then it’s well worth your money to pay the LIVE fee. However, the XBOX has been out a year longer than the PS3 and Wii and as a result the PS3 has better technology and could outlast the XBOX in a technical endurance race. Could the XBOX slowly start to lose its lead over the PS3? I wouldn’t hold your breath…at least not yet. Microsoft has a pretty little lineup of goodies to present the public at this year’s E3 and possibly some surprises up its sleeve. Games like Gears of War 2, Fable 2, Halo Wars and Fallout 3 are among the elite titles sure to tear up eyes and cause hysteria at this year’s E3.

Gears of War 2 and Fable 2 will be two of Microsoft’s ring leaders at this year’s E3.

Will Microsoft reveal news of a new console in the works? It’s been two and a half years since the release of the 360, and most consoles’ life spans last around 5 years. It’s a bold statement to make, but this could be the first public news on the details of a 360 successor.

Could development of Bio Shock 2 be announced? It’s true that the title is in the works, yet no details about the game, plot, etc have been revealed.

Oh, and I’m sure there’ll be a price cut for the 360. Cutting the 360’s price will help XBOX start off the fall with a continuation of its edge on the PS3.

Just when the future looked bleak for Nintendo and its Gamecube, just when everyone thought the gaming giant had lost the war, Nintendo shocked the world and regained gaming recognition with the release of the Wii. Up until recently you couldn’t even find a Wii on your local game retailers’ shelves. Now, the Wii is the first system since the Super NES to lead its generation in console sales. So what does the hottest selling console have to offer at this year’s E3? To answer that question truthfully…it doesn’t look like much. With the recent release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fit, Nintendo doesn’t seem to have much else baking in the oven. In terms of Wii games, the lineup looks limited, and that’s an overstatement. There are a couple of new Mature rated games coming out in the likes of Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse and Mad World. These two titles might help encourage gamers to see the Wii as not just a kiddy console, yet, other than those two games, the Wii’s lineup looks barren. However, I wouldn’t start getting discouraged just yet, because we should all be used to (by now) Nintendo’s routine of keeping every little interesting bit of information on the DL – completely under wraps. My relationship with Nintendo is strictly love/hate.

Fatal Frame and Mad World are currently two out of the very few titles Nintendo has officially announced, but you know the Big N has a trick or two somewhere up its damn sleeve. They always do…

So, as usual, we are left with our own dumb assumptions about what the Big N is planning to reveal at its conference. My guess is that they are planning to show sequels to Animal Crossing and Pikmin. However, the biggest rumor buzzing around is the possibility of a new and revamped Kid Icarus game for the Wii. With the emergence of Pit as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the idea of a new Kid Icarus installment just seems logical. Also, if I keep my fingers crossed tight enough, Nintendo might even reveal its next brilliant idea for the Wiimote. We’ve all played Wii Sports and seen what Wii Fit can do…so what’s the big N going to do next? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Is there a possibility for a new Game Boy or DS successor? It would be about that time for Nintendo to start thinking of the possibility. The DS is still selling extremely well, but the technology is getting dated. Nintendo might reveal news of a new handheld, but I wouldn’t expect anything more than a few very scarce details.

Unlike the price drops that Sony and Microsoft will implement, don’t expect Nintendo to drop their prices anytime soon. There’s no point– the Wii and the DS are both selling like cupcakes at a fat camp.

My Top E3 Game Picks

I’ve given you a list of what you can expect to see from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo’s conferences, and now I’m going to highlight a few select titles that have caught my eye and should catch yours as well. I’m a fan of the survival horror genre so most of my picks fall into that category.

Dead Space

EA’s Dead Space has promise to be one of the year’s most innovative and shocking survival horror adventures. With clever game design (there’s no onscreen HUD), intelligent enemies (targeting certain weak points) and original level design (anti-gravity rooms), Dead Space is shaping up to be the surprise hit of the fall. And who would have thought, its release is set for Halloween. How’s that for trick-or-treating?

Resident Evil 5

It’s been ten years after the mansion incident, and once again players will have the opportunity to take on the role of Chris Redfield as he travels to Africa and tries to uncover the origins of the virus. The game looks to follow the controls of Resident Evil 4 (camera over the shoulder shooter) closely while brining new gameplay mechanics into the works. This game is as vital to me as my kidneys – no lie!

Fallout 3

Fallout 3 looks like it’s shaping up to be the RPG of the year. With vast terrain, smart A.I., an interesting plot, gorgeous graphics and an overwhelming amount of upgrades and the likes, Fallout 3 will be Christmas come early.

Silent Hill: Homecoming

The last couple of console installments of the Silent Hill series have been far less than stellar. What started out as one of the pioneering survival horror franchises has turned into games featuring bad control, poor mechanics and sub par plots as of late. Hopefully, with the new American developers on the project (the makers behind Silent Hill Origins for PSP) SH: Homecoming will retain the series to its once revered and gore-tastic status.

Hope this little guide will help you ease the wait until next week’s main event. If there is something that I missed or something that you don’t agree with me on, I would love to hear your comments. As always, thanks for reading.

-Dillon (D-Dub)

Now that the Playstation 3 has been out for awhile and the game selection has grown to a substantial size, I thought it would be a good idea to put together an updated buyers’ guide. This will provide a basic comparison between PS3 models and things to ask/look out for if buying a used model.To make this easy for you and myself, I will go through the models based on the size of their hard drive, from smallest to largest.

20 GB PS3- This was one of the earlier models which provided the ability to enjoy Playstation 1 and 2 games thanks to the Emotion Engine (really a PS2 CPU and GPU). While the smaller hard drive doesn’t make this model the most desirable, it does gain an advantage over some of the other models because of this backward compatibility. Another storage drawback is the absence of a Compactflash, SD, or Memory Stick slot. Not a big deal if you don’t use these extras. If you are an online gamer you will have to deal with a wired connection since wireless is not an option here. Although it is no longer sold in stores you can still buy this fine piece of equipment online. It is probably most easily found on eBay, but Amazon.com also has some for sale at a slightly higher price. If you purchase this version with no games, $380 to $400 including shipping is a pretty good deal, and with a few games, expect to pay $430 to $550.

40 GB PS3- Although you will find the best price deals with this version, think about what features you want before you buy. If you have a collection of PS2 games, go for a different system. There is no support for backward compatibility for PS2 games with this version. Fortunately, it will play your PS1 games. It also has wireless capabilities, and it is easy to find in stores and online. Another slight down side is that there are only 2 USB ports on the front of the machine. This limits peripherals and places to charge extra controllers. Furthermore, like the 20GB there isn’t a Compactflash, SD, or Memory Stick slot. It has been sold for as little as $320 including shipping.

60 GB PS3- In my opinion, as many would agree with me, this is the best version to get if you can spend a little more. This version not only provides the best backward compatibility, supporting PS1 and PS2 games, it also has Wi-Fi and a Compactflash, SD, and Memory Stick slot making it superior to the 20 GB system. It has PS2 compatibility, four USB slots, and superior CD audio making it better than the 40 GB model. However, this unit will be more expensive. A good used model sells for about $440 to $500 with just the basics. Moreover, it can only be found online or in stores that deal with used goods. If you manage to find it new online, expect to pay at least $600.

80 GB PS3- This system has all the features of the 60 GB, but obviously has more storage space. However, there is a trade off. This version uses a software emulator for both PS1 and PS2 games. This lowers the number of successfully playable games from the older consoles. In addition, if you need more storage you can buy an upgraded internal or external hard drive. This model can still be found in some stores. This unit sells for about the same price as the 60 GB used. New it will be about $499. If you buy the Metal Gear bundle expect to pay more.

Again, hard drive size doesn’t mean you’re getting a better model. You can always upgrade to more storage!

I found this site as I was compiling my research. It gives a nice, quick comparison in a easy to read visual format.

So, let’s say hypothetically you decided what model to buy. If you buy it new, there’s not too much to worry about. However, if you decide to save some money and go used, here are a few questions to ask the seller:

Is it the original hard drive?

Some sellers might try to sell you a 60 or 80 GB unit that is just a 40 GB upgrade. You will not have the same features, only a bigger hard drive. Beware!

Have there been any modifications to this unit?

Some programming savvy folks have been putting Linux on new PS3s. If you’re not familiar with how to operate the system, this will be a waste of money and time. In addition, it will also double check the hard drive pitfall.

Have there been any problems with the unit (e.g. disc errors, system freezing, unit over-heating, or failing to power on, etc.)?

This will attempt to get sellers to confess to any problems with the unit. Try to phrase it openly with “etc” or sentence wording to be sure there aren’t additional problems not addressed specifically by your question.

Is there a warranty or return policy?

Find out if there is one and then find out how long it is good for. Some places will relay you to a third party for a warranty which will cost about $70 a year for used systems if they are no longer produced.

Can you ship it with insurance?

This will protect both parties from DOA units that were a sold or auctioned by a seller trying to cozen buyers. You as the buyer will have peace of mind if something were to go wrong, and if you’re the seller you will not have to deal with deceitful buyers.

What accessories does it come with?

Be sure a power cord, A/V cables, and a controller are a part of the package. Some sellers will list a unit by itself to save buyers money, but buyers who don’t read the full description may be surprised by their package when it only contains the PS3 console.

What payment methods do you accept?

Some sellers will only deal with PayPal, others only want checks. Find out what the deal is, and if there is a reason why one method is preferred. I recommend sticking with PayPal if possible. You will get at least $200 buyer protection, and with most good sellers $2,000 if something goes wrong.

Another good thing to check if you are buying on eBay or Amazon.com is to check a seller’s rating before buying. This will give you an idea about a person’s track record as a seller.

My final section is just places to compare prices before you make a purchase. Call local pawn shops, used CD stores, video games specialty stores, and retail stores to see if they have what you need. This will save you money on gas and will allow you to compare prices easily. Check online sources like eBay, Amazon.com, craigslist.org, and cheapassgamer.com for deals locally and nationally. The more research you do the better price you’ll get. You can even check with friends to see if they know anyone selling. Hope this was helpful in some way.

Rx by

Dr. M. CLK