Next-Gen Updates From Leipzig

The Leipzig Game Convention continues in Germany. Folks looking forward to the Wii should be happy to hear Nintendo has announced some new games. They announced the new titles at their press conference, an event which both Kotaku and 1up were on-hand for. Sony hasn't had a lot to say in the last few days. As promised, there are no playable PS3 games available; just the same, gamers can look forward to 27 playable PS3 titles at the Tokyo Game Show. Microsoft, meanwhile, spent time at the convention talking about Xbox Live, and showing off their new peripherals. 1up up was there for the Microsoft press conference as well.

simply..

[buswolley]

a disappointment.

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[account_deleted]

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Re:

[fimbulvetr]

Sony's releasing their console this year?

Re:

[kinglink]

I have not heard that from anywhere, but that's a major blow, because from my understanding Winning Eleven was the major game in Japan, and from Konami. Of course americans thinks nothing of soccer so that might be why we haven't heard it posted.

Of course if you think EA is going to ignore the PS3 why? EA wants to make everyone buy the game, and the asian companies who will probably buy the PS3 easier will be targetted by EA.

Even so with EA gobbling up every sport I'm a little saddened, but at least we sh

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[account_deleted]

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Re:

[MindStalker]

Well the Wii certainly proved itself to me. When they released "The Wizard" to DVD.

Otherwise. meh. You know Nintendo certainly does have a good marketting team (well minus the late 90's early 2000's, but you know..)

Re:

[MBraynard]

Great marketing team indeed - just like how they marketed themselves from first to third place.

Re:

[KDR_11k]

The marketers responsible for that have been shipped off to Australia.

Re:

[gabebear]

This would be huge news if true... It seems more likely that you misread something else though. Has anyone else read this anywhere?

Anyone else notice that the Wii's Battalion Wars 2 screenshots were in 1080 Hi-Def?

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[account_deleted]

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So...

[UbuntuDupe]

did the Germans there say "wee" or "vee" (for "Wii")?

Re:

[billimad]

This account used to have terrible karma.

It still has ;-)

Re:

[maglor_83]

Not sure, but the translaters kept translating it as double-you double-eye

Cataan on XBLA!

[Saige]

I'm totally excited to hear that Settlers of Cataan (along with Carcassonne and Alhambra) is coming to Xbox Live Arcade! I absolutely love the board game, and if the XBLA version is decent, this is going to be a big, big time sink for me.

Re:

[ackthpt]

I'm totally excited to hear that Settlers of Catan (along with Carcassonne and Alhambra) is coming to Xbox Live Arcade! I absolutely love the board game, and if the XBLA version is decent, this is going to be a big, big time sink for me.

Have you seen the Microsoft implementation of Settlers of Cataan? I gave it [msn.com] a try, but thought it sucked bad. If you want to play a decent online version, get this [sourceforge.net]. It requires Java, so you may not be able to play on your XBox, unless the MS game dev kit for XBOX lets

Re:

[drewmca]

Um, do you have any actual awareness of how Java and JVMs work? SOunds like you got burned by Microsoft's shitty JVM once and blame Java for it. Statements like "chances are that you can't get a jvm for it because java doesn't run everywhere" just blow my mind.

Re:

[KDR_11k]

Or maybe he's a cellphone developer?

Re:

[Rakishi]

Another good one is Sea3D (http://www.s3dconnector.net/) althrough the makers are making a new version from the ground up atm (last I heard they've got a workign version of that, mostly).

And here are the 27

[_xeno_]

After a bit of digging, I found a larger list of titles [ps3land.com] than the two Reuters mentioned. Apparently the full list isn't available?

• Devil May Cry 4
• Blade Storm: Hundred Years War
• Mahjong Taikai
• Coded Arms: Assault
• Fatal Inertia
• The Eye of Judgement
• Warhawk
• Gran Turismo Series
• Genji
• Formula One World Championship
• Heavenly Sword
• Everybody's Golf 5
• MotorStorm
• LAIR
• Resistance: Fall of Man
• Mobile Suit Gundam
• Ridge Racer 7
• Armored Core 4

Only two I'm interested in the entire list are DMC4 and AC4. Even so, neither are enough to make me interested in blowing $600.

Re:And *where* are the 27?

[_xeno_]

You know, even after preveiwing, I neglected to check the title. That should be "and where are the 27?" - there doesn't appear to be a list.

Blah. I'll blame it on having skipped my morning coffee.

Re:

[_xeno_]

I haven't heard about those two games. The only two games I'm really interested in are sequels to games I enjoyed on the PS2. (Armored Core is underrated, IMHO.)

That's mostly because I haven't really been following the PS3 releases after they announced the price tag. While I probably can afford it, I'm not willing to pay the launch price. If I'm going to be getting a PS3, it'll be after the first price cut. (Just like my PS2 and PSX purchases.) Since I'm not really interested in the PS3, I haven't b

Re:

[ichigo 2.0]

Ridge Racer! Riiiiiiidge Raceeer!

Re:

[Bloodmoon1]

Only two I'm interested in the entire list are DMC4 and AC4. Even so, neither are enough to make me interested in blowing $600.

$600... for the system. $720 (probably) if you actually get the two games, and let's just assume 7% sales tax, so you can escape for around $774.20 assuming you don't want any other controllers, memory cards, etc., which would easily push the total over $800.

And you're still doing better than me on games that would make you want a PS3. Only AC4 appeals to me, though I remember

Re:

[KoRnhornio]

• Mahjong Taikai

Are you shitting me? That's why they're trying to convince us we all need $600 consoles and ultra-mega-mega-HDTVs?

The system will be ready, not the games.

[kinglink]

No no no... the SYSTEM is going to be ready in November. There's been little discussion on which games will be released.

And the number of games near the final version is small, definatly not 27. More like high teens.

Re:Everything Is Wii And PS3 From Now On

[mikeisme77]

Nintendo and Sony showed next to nothing at the conference... The two games Nintendo showed were already rumored (and in the case of Strikers had been announced the week before, albeit only semi-officialy). Sony delayed their conference (although that wasn't mentioned in the summary) and then apparently showed next to nothing (unless their conference STILL hasn't happened)... Microsoft had the most announcements, but they don't exactly have any reason for secrecy as they aren't currently riding on a wave of hype--they're trying to create one (without much success...) Microsoft jumped the gun when they launched the 360, but in doing so they put pressure on Sony and that's showing as Sony's armor currently seems to be crumbly fairly quickly, partially due to their own ego but also because they're trying to meet a launch window that appears to early. Nintendo seems to have the only console that's ready--with a large number of quality launch titles (and other quality titles to come in the first year), a growing 3rd party developer group, and a system that they've been manufacturing for at least a month and recently increased production of (and without the hardware worries of their competitors since they're using fairly standard/very stable tech--as opposed to bleeding edge).
That's not to count Sony out, they have the mindshare still and they more than likely have either at least one more "surprise" or they'll have some lie they'll tell to convince the stupid people (at least 75% of the population) that nothing can beat the PS3. Microsoft has a decent foothold in the North American market, but they just haven't done enough to win over the other markets--although they're trying (the exclusive rights to FIFA for a year and the Japanese RPGs are steps forward... but it, sadly, probably won't be enough...)

Re:

[apoc06]

MS has so far done a decent job of convincing the internet world that the xbox360 is relevent, but the real world isnt buying. the US is not respresentative of the world. even the psp, a console that the internet would have you believe is 'dying', sells better than the xbox360 worldwide. it can't match the sales of a handheld console thats older and theoretically should be having its sales trail off slightly by now? psp sales are still brisk, but xbox360 sales are the ones that are trailing off. i dont thin

Re:

[mikeisme77]

I stated that the 360 was less than a stellar success and that Microsoft was trying desperately to fix their mistake of launching worldwide too early by trying to find things that appeal to gamers outside of North America (but it's too little, too late). Sony, being the current market leader, should be prepared for a greater level of criticism then their underdog competitors--when you're #1 everybody turns a critical eye to you trying to find the weakness in your armor. And as for Sony not seeing the 360 as

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

What makes you believe the PS3 will fare any better?

The XBox 360's biggest problems are that $400 is a lot to pay for a console (historically speaking $300 is more then most people spend on a gaming system), and all the games that are released for it are clones or rehashes of previous generation titles with prettier graphics; the problem isn't that the words Microsoft and XBox appear on the packaging as some fanboys would assume. Games on the XBox 360 don't play any differently then games on the XBox did, a

Re:Everything Is Wii And PS3 From Now On

[realmolo]

I pretty much agree.

I think of it this way:

With the Playstation/Saturn/N64 generation, we were introduced to "3D games". But they didn't look that great. Well, the N64 looked pretty good, but it was hampered by using cartridges instead of CDs.

With the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube generation, we didn't get any new *types* of games, but we got *good-looking* versions of the games we had on the previous generation. And they really did/do look good.

Now with this generation, we get *better looking* versions of the games we have been playing. But they're the same types of games, and they don't look all that much better. It feels like we're getting a relatively minor cosmetic upgrade, though the online features are nice. And the price! The 360 and PS3 are ridiculously expensive.

The Wii, of course, *will* have new types of games, and still will look great, and is likely to be the cheapest. Which is why I think it will sell pretty well.

Re:

[xtracto]

With the Playstation/Saturn/N64 generation, we were introduced to "3D games". But they didn't look that great. Well, the N64 looked pretty good, but it was hampered by using cartridges instead of CDs.

With the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube generation, we didn't get any new *types* of games, but we got *good-looking* versions of the games we had on the previous generation. And they really did/do look good.

Moreover I believe it has been the natural trend in videogame consoles since I have memory:
0. Atari 2600 et. al.
1. NE

Re:

[sammaffei]

What? Have you even seen "Dead Rising?" Definitely not the same old XBox,,,

Re:

[apoc06]

maybe not, but what is there in dead rising that would prevent it from being ported down to the xbox? the only limiting factor is the amount of onscreen activity. the graphics can be dulled down a bit, and the game would have been the exact same.

what the OP was trying to say is that at least with the ps3 and wii you have the option to have a somewhat unique experience. there is some form of upward progression that is different from just spec increments.

What I don't understand...

[jizziknight]

...is why Sony doesn't have any playable titles yet. Are they not ready? Do they not want to show off an unfinished game? If they're not ready now, are they going to be ready for launch? This doesn't really speak well for their readiness for a November launch. At this point, the launch titles should at least be playable to a point, and the remaining development should be mostly finishing touches and bug fixes. I just don't get where Sony is going with this whole "no playable titles" thing. Anyone want to be

Re:

[jgrana]

I don't think there's any way Sony will be ready for TGS at this rate. I mean, they haven't even started manufacturing consoles [gamespot.com] and the launch is supposed to be what, 3 months away? At this point, we should've seen playable demos at E3 from Sony, and more demos in Leipzig. I mean, sure, we don't have a launch date for the Wii. But we have a ton of almost-ready-to-market games (thanks to the dev kit similarity between the Cube and the Wii) and we know what the gameplay looks like. Even with the hazy launch

Re:

[apoc06]

manufacturing usually doesnt start a full year ahead of time or anything. the wii is rumored to have /just/ started production themselves; their launch is supposedly sometime in october. launch units arent created that much further ahead of time as you think. xbox360 production started only ~70 days before the launch. barring component shortages, sony is sticking to standard industry launch plans and may just make their shipping goal. nintendo and sony have console launch experience; no big deal. unlike mic

Re:What I don't understand...

[AuMatar]

Remember when Sony execs said we'd buy the PS3 even if it had no games? They're going to test that.

Re:

[jizziknight]

Uh, dipshit, the PS3 by itself is the cheapest 1080p BluRay player on the market

Yes, because this really matters when few of the small number of people that actually have HDTVs have ones that can render 1080p.

27 playable games at TGS

Irrelevant until they actually show up at TGS. And just because there are 27 playable games, doesn't mean they'll all be ready for launch. They could be "playable" in that you can play through a 5 minute demo of the game.

What a fucking loser you are!

What a fucking coward fanboy

Re:

[trdrstv]

"...is why Sony doesn't have any playable titles yet."

Because it's too close to launch, and they know the graphics aren't nearly what they thought they should be by now (See Killzone 2 trailer). The MGS4 trailer is nice, but it's a CG trailer with no Hud or actual gameplay. My PS1 can play a comparable quality CG trailer.

I'm Still waiting on those 'Real time Toy Story level graphics' on my PS2 Ken...

Re:

[jizziknight]

I'm Still waiting on those 'Real time Toy Story level graphics' on my PS2 Ken...

Clearly your Emotion Engine isn't configured properly.

Re:

[Rallion]

Because it's too close to launch, and they know the graphics aren't nearly what they thought they should be by now

I think you're right. I wouldn't argue that the PS3 can't deliver the visuals Sony is looking for. However, I don't expect developers do be able to make it spit them out, at least not yet. It's a new system based on a completely new type of processor. They get all excited about how it's different, when in fact this is a case where being different is bad.

This is another thing that people don't

Re:

[jizziknight]

By "nobody" do you mean nobody in the US or Japan? I'm sure people in Europe care. It's not like many of them are going to travel to the US or Japan for a conference. Sure, they get the same internet we do, but still. I'm sure E3 gets more coverage in the US than anywhere else, TGS gets more coverage in Japan than anywhere else, and so on. By not showing any games in Leipzig, they're not really doing a whole lot to capture the (albeit smaller) European market. They should have had playable demos at E3 (can'

Re:

[KDR_11k]

Yeah, as far as the video game companies are concerned, those aren't people.

As far as console games companies are concerned, you mean. That's the reason the PC is still more important to gaming than the PS2 over here.

It may not be HD...

[Cyno01]

I really hope the Wii outputs at least 854x480...

Sony Still Reeling

[PaulMorel]

I have been confused about why Sony has been so quiet. True, the annoying PSP marketing campain never seems to end, and there are still some good titles coming to the PS2 (Scarface, GoW 2), but when it comes to the PS3 and it's launch, Sony has been way too quiet.

Isn't this about time where they should be ramping things up? I mean, MS just launched the first true next gen titles for the 360 (Dead Rising, Saints Row), shouldn't Sony be flaunting their great next gen exclusives (Assassin, MGS)?

The pr

FUD

[badboy_tw2002]

You'll be able to develop shaders and compile directly to managed code which, yes, is a VM but don't let that confuse you with "access to the the hardware". This sounds like it will be much better than the POS PS2 Linux box that said "OMG you can make games" when really you couldn't do much of anything you'd need to do to make a "real" game. MS has said that you'll be able to make games worthy of professional titles with the kit, and is pushing the exact same tech for developers to use in XBLA games.

Re:

[Saige]

Assassin's Creed is NOT exclusive to the PS3 - it's coming to the Xbox 360 also...

Re:

[Espen Skoglund]

The problem is that Sony has 27 titles that are close to playable, and none of them are killer apps. Devil May Cry 4 looks like the only decent title that will be available at launch, and the other titles that look good also look like they're a long way off. So what does that leave Sony left to talk about? Yep, they will launch in time for Christmas!

Not suprised. If Sony started up a PS3 marketing hype in August it would probably either 1) cool off before the holiday season, or 2) people would be so fed