DCUO going Heroic! Free 2 Play in October!

After realizing that WOW is the only successful MMO that will utilize monthly subscriptions, DC Universe Online has finally scratched their monthly payments and are going F2P starting at the end of October. Or at least, October is when they say they will. If anyone has been playing the game, they know that SOE can not be trusted with deadlines. So there is a chance this may not take effect until February 2012 sometime...

So they are breaking their model into three areas:

Free: Expect the basic. Only two characters available, limited powers, limited character slots...well...limited everything. If they want more of them, they will have to pay for them. Must still pay for DLC.

Premium: This is where I fall in. For those who have paid for the game or have paid $5 in the game will fall under this category. This is where the normal range of stuff falls. There are still some limitations in terms of what can be in the bank, how much money you carry, inventory slots and the like; but for the most part it will be what players currently have. Must still pay for DLC.

Legendary: For those that still want to pay, this is what you want. More characters! Bigger money limit! More inventory slots! More bank slots! And DLC is FREEEEEEEEEE!!!!

As someone who has owned the game since day 1 (well, I traded it in to Amazon before they realized it couldn't be played again, but I bought it a second time...I'm a glutton for punishment) I can honestly say it's about damn time. I had fun with the game, don't get me wrong, but I think the devotion to it was due to my lifelong love for the DC Comics.

The game itself had many problems. Missions were repetitive and you were guaranteed to collect 20 things, defeat 25 enemies, do those things two more times, destroy some objects, then go in a building and fight a main villain/hero. Rinse and repeat all the way to level 30 and again some if you want to create a new character. The sad part is, it didn't matter if you were hero or villain. Didn't matter if you were mentored by Superman or Batman. Didn't matter what power you had. The majority of the missions in that game applied to everyone across the board. So expect to play the same thing multiple times if you are making multiple characters.

Also, the chat was broken. I could rarely hear people talk and it was a common occurrence at least on the PS3. There were times I would try to fly somewhere only to come to a complete stop while the chat menu popped up despite never having clicked the button for the menu in the first place. And one of the most annoying problems of all, the delay it took for the world to pop in. I will lend this advice now. If you are going to a mission, stop well ahead of entering the orange mission area. Too many times I have died because I entered the mission and was getting demolished by invisible enemies that hadn't loaded up onto the screen yet. Very annoying.

But the game was still fun. The combat worked well, people were always willing to help out, and customizing the character is one of the highlights of the game. Could the game have improvements? Sure, what game can't. But despite the faults this game has, it was still fun. But it isn't fun enough to charge a monthly fee based on how broken the game still is. They have recently added a new power, that of light. So if you want to be a Green Lantern or a Yellow Lantern, that option is there now as well.

But for this game to really excel, it needs to make improvements. The following list is my opinion of what SOE needs to do to make this game superior to the other Superhero/Supervillain game out there:

1. Fix the bugs: Too many times have I been stuck in a position where I can't attack. I can't explain it. I can't move a muscle. I sit there and can spin in a circle while stuck in a combat position, but my character just receives the punishment and doesn't give it. There have been some mission glitches where I finish a mission but doesn't give me credit for it. I have even flown through the floor of the Watchtower and flew through space and being unable to get back in. And when I do get in, sometimes I can't leave. I'll go over to the teleporter to head to Gotham but it doesn't take me anywhere. I'm pressing the damn O button DCUO, take me where I want. But no, I just sit there. Stuck in the watchtower as if Final Crisis has occurred.

2. Expand the level: The level cap is 30. While it feels like it takes forever to get there due to playing missions for the 6th time, it would be nice if the cap would rise. While there are ways to still increase the stats through new weapons and armor, part of the thrill is leveling up and gaining new abilities. If they would do this, it would increase the longevity of characters and gameplay.

3. New powers and costumes!: It's one thing to have powers similar to Superman. It's another to have a costume almost similar to Superman. But being able to purchase the S symbol or a cape with the S symbol would be awesome. There are too many Big Bad Beetleborg costumes running amok in that game the creativity of characters feel at an all time low. And while everyone running around with a Deathstroke costume wouldn't make it any better, I think there would be more people trying out different costumes to look like a cool Green Lantern with the Green Lantern symbol than someone who just received the mentor armor that they want to run around and show off. The same with powers. I want someone to shoot electricity from their hands or stretch twenty feet to pull enemies closer. I want to grow to be 15 feet and kick around enemies with my boots. There are so many powers available in the DCU, it would be nice to see some more added. You add stuff like this, and you will bleed my wallet dry!

4. World Events: I don't know how easy this would be. I'm not a programmer and I don't know anything about MMO's. In fact, this is my first MMO. But how awesome would it be to have Imperiex attack the planet? Not just a small area, but Imperiex drones dropping out of the sky with only a few safe areas for people to gather? Or how about the Anti-Montior stomping around Metropolis with heroes and villains all trying to take him out together? So many awesome opportunities and so far nothing like that.

Those are just my few gripes about the game and it would be nice for it to be improved on. So if you haven't tried the game, what have you got to lose now? Well, besides the space. It's a huge game (18 gbs I think it maxed out at?). Everyone harps MMO's to be free to play. This one is now, so give it a shot and let's see all those new heroes and villains roam the city.

Nintendo 3DS: Can it recover?

Since the release of the 3DS back in March, feelings of the Nintendo 3DS has been lackluster at best. The leadup to the 3DS was general excitement since the 3D worked and most hoped Nintendo had improved upon the previous DS generations. When it released though, Nintendo had a non-functional online store, a forgettable list of launch titles, and a staggering pricepoint given their home console cost less.

Since then, the Nintendo 3DS has had disappointing US sales that have yet to touch 1 million and a looming competitor in the PS Vita at the same pricepoint with impressive compatitbilities. Nintendo needs to do several things to pull this fuel out of the fire before it blows up in their face as a complete disaster.

1. Handheld Selling Games

There are many times an amazing game comes out for a console that people claim is console-buying worthy. Call of Duty could be up there, Metal Gear Solid, Halo, Mario, etc. Nintendo (and Sony in the future) need to have a similar game but something that will sell their handheld. Many were hoping that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time would be that game. But is it really? A game that was released back in 1998 with a graphical update including 3D graphics is going to be the handheld seller? They need something more and they have the names to do it. With upcoming games like Super Mario 3D, Resident Evil: Revelations, Mario Kart, and more; Nintendo is trying to bring out a variety of games hoping to catch the interest of various gamers and bumping up the 3DS sells.

But a lot of these games seem like merely rehashes of previous games or ones that are already on consoles. Resident Evil: Mercenaries has come out with negative reviews for a full 3DS cost of a mode in Resident Evil 5. Star Fox 64 3D is just another N64 game with updates in the same vein of Ocarina of Time. Super Street Fighter IV, Metal Gear Solid 3, Madden NFL Football...why play these games on a 3DS when they have superior console versions?  There is no incentive to own these games other than to try and pass time with a handheld that has nothing else on it. So why even bother purchasing the 3DS until a better lineup is in stock?

2. The Cost

$250 is a LOT of money. To put it down on handheld that has not proven itself and whose biggest draw is a gimmick most people don't particularly enjoy...it's not going to succeed. Add to the fact the PS Vita looms in the distance and side by side, there is no comparison. The PS Vita will win out of the 3DS if they are at the same pricepoint. Considering how sad the sales have been for the 3DS, a pricedrop at E3 would have been reassuring. But with no mention of one, perhaps Nintendo wants to see how it fares during the holidays. This would have a bigger selection of games built up and they wouldn't have to sacrifice the price difference for a time where they probably get the most sales during the year. But, again, the PS Vita will be out around then too, and it will be in for a battle if they cost the same. If Nintendo wants a sure-fire way to come out on top, a price drop is the only logical answer.

3. No Real Rush

The clock is not ticking down on Nintendo. After the success of the Wii, Nintendo has more than enough money to back a disappointing launch of the Nintendo 3DS. Make no mistake about it, as problematic as this launch has been, Nintendo has a DS successor in it's grasp. But like the original DS, the train didn't take off until it's later generations. They do not need to toss this handheld aside and forget about it, they just need to help it start picking up steam. Better games, cheaper price, improved online capabilities, better store, less focus on gimmicky 3D and instead on how it improves gameplay, and it's street pass capabilities (even though it will work in very few places in the US). It's Nintendo. There are few areas where they have failed miserably. And this is not a Virtual Boy. It hasn't went through the holiday phase, it has next-to-no games available for it, and in truth...it hasn't been out for very long. As long as Nintendo makes wise decisions and don't treat it's software the same way they did the Wii, the 3DS will have a long life cycle. But they can not give up on it. If they do, the 3DS is DOA.


Nintendo has a many franchises they can use to back this system up with. They have a strong following with previous DS owners and plenty of money that they received from DS and Wii sales. They have formulas for success but they do have chances to screw it up. Support is what the 3DS needs, not denial. Yes, it has sold poorly and yes, many people are speaking bad of the system as a whole. Nintendo shouldn't let that get them down. They need to reiterate with it's fanbase how no other system will get Pokemon and how they want to improve this online store compared to the DS and Wii store. They have to let people know this is the new generation of DS and they aren't going to fall back into their safe DSlite zone. They must move forward and improve on the criticisms they receive. If it means a new 3DS with longer lasting battery, more colors, and smaller hardware...then fine. I'm sure with each iteration, the handheld will get better and sales will go up. So despite the past few months, Nintendo should not worry. There is room for improvement and time for it. Fans should not give up hope.

REVIEW: Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

A few weeks ago, I sat down to this computer and started typing up a review for Brink and LA Noire. I ultimately realized...why would I want to review games that had received enough discussion when instead I could focus on lesser played games that SHOULD receive some sort of recognition. So I sat around playing some games recently, and after a purchase from Gamestop felt I came across one that I could finally write about.

Now, while I feel that those who did review this game seemed to be pretty praiseworthy about it, I think it felt more sideline-esque. Worthy of a mention, but easily overlooked and just briefly stated. After spending quite a few hours this week playing this game, I came to the realization that if you don't have Mario Kart at your disposal, or even if you do, this game could possibly become your favorite cart racer you have played in years.

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing features twenty characters and around 30 playable tracks that all revolve around Sega games. While I haven't played a lot of Sega games (and had missed the Dreamcast altogether), a lot of what is in this game didn't seem like it would appeal to me. Half of the characters I didn't know anything about and the most knowledge I had about them is that I heard of the game they were in...but never played it myself. Fortunately for those of us with no experience with Shenmue, Space Channel 5, and ChuChu Rocket!, the majority of the characters in the game (7 of the 20 to be exact) come from the various Sonic games throughout Sega's history. Of course you will see Sonic and Tails, but Shadow the Hedghog makes an appearance along with the much hated Big the Cat.

Once you pick the character you would like to use, there are also 24 tracks to choose from all coming from the same games the characters are in. Here is where I think it starts to overshadow the popular Nintendo cart racing games. The levels in this game are nothing short of beautiful. Bright bold colors with lively music and some creative looks to the level left me in awe. One level in particular involved driving on a sort of "rainbow road" but in the distance is a large head of some characters that I'm unfamiliar with and streams of colors everywhere leading to one trippy experience. I have played many of the Mario Kart games, and none of the levels have really caught my interest the way these levels have.

The controls in this game are remarkably smooth. The movements are tight, drifting is very easy and also a large part of this game, and I have yet to have any issues with placing items. The one drawback I have with the controls are the stiffness and difficulty I have with the character All-Star moves. For example, Tails has the special move of calling down a tornado. Moving Tails and the tornado is quite a frustrating thing. Moving left and right feels almost non-existant while the character itself is automatically propelled forward in the track. As a whole however, the controls are responsive and crisp and easy to pick up and simply play.

All of the characters and tracks that are playable are not available right at the beginning. As the game is played, the player racks up Sega Miles which they can then use to unlock various other characters, tracks, and music to use. While I haven't quite figured out how the Sega Miles calculator works, I would think it safe to assume that it depends on how big the track is, how many laps you do, the difficulty, and what place you finish in. These are quite easy to attain and can be done in the various modes that the game offers from Single Race, Grand Prix, Time Trials, or the missions it offers.

The game modes offer a lot of replayability and a nice mix of ideas that make it push past a simple battle cart game. Like most games, you have the regular single race where you pick the level, the character, how many laps, etc. There are also six different Grand Prix events, each with four different levels to play with basically the same scoring method that Mario Kart has. Time Trials are just what they sound like. You race around tracks trying to reach the quickest time battling not only yourself, but also the staff racer and also the ability race against the ghosts of those on the leaderboard for the game. Finally, the Mission mode has 64 different...well...missions you play from that you need to try to AAA rank in. You can get by getting lower scores, but the AAA is what you should shoot for. While I haven't finished all 64 missions since more unlock as you play them, I have had missions where I roll around on a giant egg as Billy Hatcher, try to get all the chaos emeralds and as many coins I can as Dr. Robotnik, knockout races where a timer ticks down and once it reaches 0 the person in last place is out, and one where targets move on the track and you need to shoot them all with boxing glove items. Very nice addition to an already great game.

Speaking of items, expect a lot of similarities to the italian plumber version. Instead of hitting question mark boxes and running over brightly colored arrows to dash, expect to grab question mark bubbles and run over blue arrows to speed up. Missiles have replaced red turtle shells while green turtle shells have been replaced with green boxing gloves. Each character also comes with a special maneuver if they are racing rather badly, but fortunately the rubber-band gameplay is not as bad as it's Nintendo counterpart and while I'm in first, I've never been threatened by a character who went into their "All-Star" attack. Throw in some other items like a confusion star that turns the world upside down for a character or a horn that blasts characters too close to you, and despite the similarities, it comes out with a good number of likeable items.

Now, I have mentioned Mario Kart several times in this review and normally I'm not a big fan of reviewers throwing in other games to describe the one they are trying to review. However, once you play this game, you'll notice why I used it. This game does more than simple nods to Mario Kart, it flat out goes full Night at the Roxbury head bob for this game. Make no mistake, Sega made this game to try and capture the Mario Kart audience that wasn't quite being fulfilled enough on the Wii and DS, and for sure wasn't being satisfied on the Xbox or Playstation. And while games that try to cash in on other game successes usually come off pretty poor, I hope Sega comes out with more. This was an immensely satisfying game and the best cart racer I've played since the original Mario Kart.

E3 Press Conferences

Other than the Sony mishap, there's not much news to talk about is there? So I'm focusing (yet again) on E3 and what to expect from the 3 big press conferences held by Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. So the company with the least amount of news going into E3 is Microsoft, and they are kicking off the show conferences.

1. Microsoft - The Underdog

On June 6th, at 10am, Microsoft will be taking the stage for their conference. And truthfully...nobody really knows what to expect. The obvious thing will be Kinect games and going from the rumblings around the web, they will try to bring in some fans with some core games. Child of Eden is a good possibility with it's release being the following week and I'll go so far as to say a Dance Central 2 after the critical acclaim it received the previous year. I would also expect them to discuss a lot of features that they are talking about for it and an idea of when to see those.

Expect new features for the X-Box like they do yearly. With the acquisition of Skype, that has to be included in the conference somewhere and how that will be brought into the system. New avatar stuff comes about every year with some sort of app that nobody really cares about but Microsoft will include anyways.

I would expect to hear something Halo related, whether it be a new game but it seems more likely for a re-release of a previous game. I've heard a lot of the original being the re-release, but I could see them go the Sony route and re-release the first two games on a collection disc ala God of War, Tomb Raider, etc. The recent news of the Alan Wake downloadable makes that a possibility of something to be shown and I would say it's a safe bet that a Forza is also in the works. Gears of War 3 is a given since that is coming out this year. Oh, and expect a tease of the summer sales they tend to do with the new arcade games to come out. They also normally announce some sort of exclusive with a game like Call of Duty and the map packs, so with the new Modern Warfare coming out, exclusivity with new DLC for that.

Lastly will be a price cut. In fact, I'll say it here. Price cut on all console systems, not just X-Box. I would say Kinect as well, but with the success of it still selling, if a price cut is in the works it will probably wait until Winter for the Christmas rush. Speaking of Kinect, also expect them to continually praise it's success until you hear crickets and snores from the audience. We've heard the same "Kinect is the fastest selling..." discussion since it's release, we don't need it taking up valuable time at the press conference that's supposed to intrigue people for the future.

Unless Microsoft has something hidden behind a big curtain this year, this press conference will be a dud. Kinect will be a big focus since it's the only thing close to a "new system" that they have to compete with Sony and Nintendo's new systems. They need to show games though, not just for Kinect, but for the console as well. They shouldn't rely heavily on 3rd party games to carry their system this year, because the other two consoles are releasing a ton of system exclusive content. They need to WOW with Kinect and they have to get gamers psyched up for future 360-exclusive releases if they even want people to remember they were there this E3.


2. Sony - Winning People Back

The past couple months have NOT been kind to Sony. If the Geohot mess wasn't bad enough, the hackers last month certainly was. So this E3 conference is a major event for Sony especially so soon after the new PSN arrives and the "Welcome Back Program" looms in the future. Which leads me into what will happen on June 6th at 5pm...

Do they address it, or don't they? Part of me thinks they want to move on and try to just impress the hell out of everybody in an attempt to make them forget. It's been discussed pretty extensively the past few weeks and will be for the next two at least. But...it's the elephant in the room. The big fat elephant they have dancing on their projection screen while they try to sell us on the NGP. They have to address it. An apology will be made I'm sure and I think they will also reiterate how important their consumers security is and they will then go into detail about the situation and what they have done to make it better. I also don't expect us to see the "Welcome Back Package" until E3 or maybe slightly after just so they can bring it up as a "see...we care!" way to finish that topic.

I'm sure the Playstation Phone...Xperia Play...whatever it's called will also be talked about. Most people won't care, but I'm sure there will be a few minutes just for this phone and what it can do.

But...the NGP will be the big thing for Sony. We'll get to see it running with games like Uncharted and Wipeout and they let us know all the specs and details about the system and even the release date, price, and list of games. If they don't, they are foolish. They may discuss the PSP and how they plan on improving that with the NGP, but I see a decent portion of the conference being devoted to this new handheld with cheap shots thrown at Nintendo about gimmicky 3D (before they go into their 3D Playstation games and televisions part of the show).

Then out come the games. Twisted Metal was the big reveal last year, so I'm not expecting that to be the finale but it's expected to have something at the conference. The same with Resistance 3, Uncharted 3, The Last Guardian, Dark Souls (maybe), the upcoming Final Fantasy and some news on more collections such as the Ico/Shadow of the Colossus one and probably show us what that looks like cleaned up. The finale, in my mind, has to be The Last Guardian. People have wanted more on that game than any other the past few years and it's time it came out. I'm calling it now...Gameplay will be shown and a release date will be given.

Sony has the potential to be the big show. Nintendo has all eyes on them for their new console reveal, so Sony will have to put the effort in to divert the attention their way. If they do it correctly, and Nintendo fails to impress, Sony has this one in the bag. The PSP was a disappointment (let's not even mention the GO), so a big focus will be on promoting the NGP and they have to have it a decent price to compete with the 3DS regardless of what it can do. They need to acknowledge the recent hackings if only to get it out of the way especially since people are wanting to hear Sony discuss it. And finally, show us that extensive PS3 exclusive list of games to expect that people often overlook for the X-Box's piddly exclusives.

3. Nintendo - All or Nothing

The day everyone is waiting for is June 7th. At 9 in the morning, Nintendo takes the stage with big expectations and hopeful explanations.Their conference will be divided into 3 sections: 3DS, Wii, and Cafe'. Now, will the 3DS go before or after the Wii? It is just their handheld system and they tend to get less love at press conferences than consoles, but with the Wii dying, I can see the 3DS going second. However, if they want to promote the Cafe' right (and depending if they have games to show), they will show the Wii THEN Cafe' if only to show the major differences between the systems.

The 3DS has sold well, but not to Nintendo's liking. They will address this and show how they plan on improving this. So...bring out the 3DS games. The list of games that came out last year will have footage for this year along with seeing what that Super Mario Bros title tease is all about. They know one of the major downfalls of the 3DS was the lack of games so they want to prove everyone wrong and show that it wasn't wrong for them to purchase this system. Zelda, Mario Kart, Super Mario Bros 3 (?), the e-shop, and more will be discussed in this portion of the conference. Oh. Price drop for the handheld as well and maybe a new iteration by the end of the year.

The Wii is dying, but not quite dead. They will still show games that will be coming out this year, similar to what they did last year with games like Donkey Kong, Kirby, etc. Games we weren't expecting, but will see for the Wii shall be announced that will come out before the year's end and of course the one we do know about: Skyward Sword. The problem is, again, the Wii is on it's last legs. Other than some new game announcements and a price decrease, there's not much going for this system this E3. If anything, it's just to help propel the new system to the fanbase.

The big announcement of E3! PROJECT CAFE! The mysteries will be unveiled. What will it look like!? The the hell is the deal with the controller!? Are the graphics really better!? These questions and more will all be answered. This is what everyone wants to know and see at E3. Nintendo can win back a large portion of the hardcore gamers they lost with the Wii, or they can utterly disappoint everyone with a lackluster system that barely competes with the current gen of consoles. What happens here will help dictate the pace of the next generation of consoles. Sony and Microsoft are definately keeping an eye on this console and if it looks like it will be a beast, it could cause them to speed up towards their next system as well. I'm not sure exactly what Nintendo will show, but if they are shooting for the core audience I would expect big name developers to be mentioned, maybe some video of what games will look like, and the hardware itself at the very least. They may hold off on showing the controller, but since it's not as big of a departure that the wiimote was, I don't see them keeping that a secret.

Nintendo's conference will be the most interesting. This is the one people are looking forward to but can Nintendo show enough leading up to the reveal of Project Cafe to interest people? The console itself may show too much or too little and like any reveal can cause some ripples in the fandom. The 3DS didn't get the greatest reception upon it's reveal, it wasn't until people had it in their hands before it really took off. This console could be the same. If Nintendo has a lackluster showing for Project Cafe, the rest of their show will be scoffed at. The 3DS is to help people feel better about their purchase, the Wii is to bide the time until the new console, and the Cafe is supposed to have people excited for the future. If Cafe' is disliked, nobody will care about the Wii releases since those are dying out anyways and the 3DS is just a handheld so it's not held up to the same standards of a console and that news will play 2nd fiddle anyways.


It is coming. We are just a few weeks away and most things are pure speculation at this point. News tends to be pretty dead up until E3 (unless smaller devs want to get SOME mention before the wave of news hits), but with what's coming up, can everything deliver? There's a lot of hope for what's coming out in Sony and Nintendo's camp, and Microsoft has people scratching their heads. But if last year was any indication, anything can happen. It is coming. We are just a few weeks away...

Project: Headline

With the recent hype for E3 and the Nintendo press conference, I was thinking back to previous game systems and what they used to be called. Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we?


1. Atari 2600 - Stella

Nothing like naming your game system after the fat aunt you hate who comes over every Thanksgiving but only brings baked beans.

2. Atari 5200 - Pam

So to show progression in the system, let's give this system a name slightly more with the times but just older than this generation would like.

3. Game Boy Advance - Atlantis

I understand that Atlantis is a great mythical city, but you would think you would pick one that didn't get lost in time.


4. Dreamcast - Katana

Maybe this was code named Katana because they thought it was cool, sharp, sleek. Instead it resembled it more by putting it in a closet and showing it to friends every now and then.


5. Nintendo 64 - Project Reality

In reality, everyone and everything is blocky, moves awkwardly, and always holds something poorly designed.


6. Gamecube - Dolphin

The only thing I can think of that would make this understandable is that dolphins are friendly. And it's hard to not be friends with someone who owned a Gamecube. Especially if they were kind enough to carry it to your house using that cool handle on the back.


7. X-Box - MARZ, then VERV, then TAC

What is...the last name of a comic book writer, what "swerve" sounds like in an accent, and half of the name of the edible candy I love.

8. Nintendo DS - Iris, then Nitro

Iris sounds like it was trying to recapture the greatness of the codenames the Atari once had, went against that with a cool American Gladiator name, then stuck with something more of their fanbase would understand. Two letters.

9. Wii - Revolution

Really great name, especially after the sales numbers and the people it pulled in. Unfortunately the Revolution was only backed by a few big names, while most people set up carnival games and sports.

10. X-Box 360 - Xenon

My name is Xenon. I am your new overlord. I am connecting everyone in a hivemind mentality. I call it...LIVE. If you would like this to continue, please give me $50 a year or else I will have to red ring you to death!

11. X-Box Kinect - Natal

Natal is probably my favorite on this list. For some reason, it just makes me feel good. NATAL. Gentle. Soft. Kind. Something I would like. And ultimately forget about because they decide to only be interesting maybe once a year.


12. ??????? - Project Cafe'

Now to Project Cafe', the future drink of Starbucks. Here's hoping it's not a ridiculously priced item for something I can get cheaper, and possibly better, somewhere else.

Execrable, Excrutiating, Exhausting = E3?

I love dork culture. I've read comics since I was six, I love cartoons and have always wanted to get into more anime, and I love video games. So one of the exciting moments of the year is the week of E3. The lead in to it is always exciting especially if there are rumors going around like there is now with the new Nintendo console. Add to the fact the ability to watch the press conferences (and possibly receive new consoles...), play builds of games that haven't come out yet, see new stuff that hadn't been announced, and talk to people in the business to see how their games are going. It's exciting.

Yet, every year is the same. Journalists whine and complain about E3 and I have to ask...WHY?! Video games are fun. Finding out more about these games are fun. Playing games that regular people don't yet get to play is fun. You are in a position that people who love these games would love to be in. But every year I hear the same dreadful moans from gaming journalists who have to go and spend a week of their lives who have to report on similar stuff that they normally talk about throughout the year. Except, this is a week with new video games, new trailers, new info, new screenshots, NEW NEW NEW. They are fortunate to be in a job position that is not only hardly difficult, but they are being paid to do things they enjoy. Play and learn about video games.

So to all the lucky ones going to E3: Don't be miserable. There are a lot of people who want to be in your shoes. And it's not like the journalists that go are doing something others can't do. Get information, then relay that to your site/magazine with occassional opinions mixed in if it's that kind of article. So please, be enthusiastic. Because it's so frustrating when people that don't go or can't go have to hear you all bitch and complain about something that should be more enjoyable.

Why Nintendo SHOULD have the edge in the console wars

This generation of console sales was pretty one sided with Nintendo dominating in the sales charts. They successfully pulled in the casual consumer with their motion controller, despite weak software sales due to lack of third party support. With Project Cafe on the horizon, that should all change. And if it does, Nintendo is truly a force to be reckoned with...IF...they learn from their mistakes and take advantage of everything they have.

1. Strong Back Catalogue:

Between the three companies, only Nintendo and Sony have the right to say they can pull out games from a vault and sell it to users. Sony is somewhat doing this well with their PS1 classics on the PSN store, the problem being that most of the games people want are being released in Japan, but not so much everywhere else. That seems to changing a bit with recent releases of Parasite Eve, Suikoden, and Chrono Trigger being an upcoming release.

Nintendo on the other hand have the Virtual Console. With almost 30 years of games under their belt, the VC should be packed full of games that nostalgia has us banging on the door for. The problem Nintendo faces is basically ignoring any and all online support they could have had for the Wii and forgetting to market these games that people could want. Nostalgia is a great way to bring in sales, especially if that nostalgia is relatively cheap to put on the system, easy to get to and a cheap enough price that gamers can't shrug off. Nintendo will need to use their back catalogue to the best of their ability to bring in side sales but they need to also market the products as well as Xbox Live instead of what they did with the Wii.


2. The Best First Party and Exclusive Support

Remember that nostalgia thing I just talked about? It's an even bigger component here. Because on no other console will you see Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Kirby, or Pokemon. People grew up with these games. And whether Nintendo decides to do another successful game to capitalize on that nostalgia in the same vein that Super Mario Brothers Wii did or do a fresh new game like Donkey Kong Country Returns; it's these games and characters that intrigue players. If Project Cafe does indeed bring back the hardcore gamer, these will be one reason why. None of these games require a deep knowledge of each respective world. It's jump in and play. Which is more than most first party/exclusive games can say on the 360 or PS3. And like I said, I don't see any of these franchises jumping ship to another console. But Nintendo has featured Sonic in Super Smash Brothers and the same with Solid Snake. Notice however that some games that were at one time exclusive, such as Metal Gear Solid and Mass Effect, are now going multi-console. So again, to reiterate my point, Nintendo has first party exclusive games that will NOT be going to a different console. And if Project Cafe puts up the sales numbers that the Wii did, it will be even more incentive for various developers to jump onto the Nintendo console. Whether it big time companies like Activision or the low-on-the-totem-pole Indie developers, they all want money. And there is more chance for money where there is a bigger install base with people who will buy their product. Which again, Nintendo will have if they bring back the hardcore gamers.


3. Learn from Microsoft and Sony

Virtual Console. DSIware. Wiiware. Friend Code. If anyone knows what these are, they also know these are complete failures on Nintendo's part. Despite the Wii having the most sales, it's not motion controlling that has had the biggest impact on gaming this generation, it's the online component. Nintendo can not flounder in this department again with the upcoming console. They don't even need to do anything revolutionary, just get an online system going that WORKS. They need to know how to market games correctly that they are trying to sell online, they need to find an easier way to get some sort of online gaming network going, and they definitely need to keep the music they have for their various shops. Say what you want about their virtual stores, but their music beats out Sony and Microsoft's hands down.


4. Do not worry about the console specs

So rumor is that Project Cafe has more power than the Xbox and PS3. Fine. But as the 360 and PS3 have shown, specs aren't everything. Although the PS3 should be producing better looking games...it really doesn't. There is only a handful of games that I could use as examples for the PS3 being above the 360 in terms of power. So if Nintendo has the "better" console, fantastic. But in the long run it doesn't mean much, especially if you take a look at their track record. Nintendo is not about up-to-date tech. They use older tech for cheaper cost. Which is both a good thing and a bad thing. For the good, it makes for cheaper consoles. I'm sure everyone remembers the "new" tech that Sony released that was the PS3. $700 I believe? Too much for an average gamer. It wouldn't be until years later that their price dropped enough for the consumer base to rise to be a contender for the 360. So even if Microsoft and Sony released a console in the next few years, it will probably be more expensive than the Nintendo console's release price, and definitely more expensive than the Nintendo console will be upon the new 360/PS3 console release. The bad would simply be an outdated system the minute the new Xbox or Playstation console is released. So with this almost Dreamcast approach to release a console between generations, Nintendo may actually be making a smart business decision with the release of this console.

5. Backwards Compatibility

More rumors about Project Cafe claims it will also be able to play Wii games and possibly Gamecube games. If this is true, this is something that should also be advertised. Despite the hardcore gamers Snively Whiplash way of thinking (a foolproof plan it is not) that they are the only consumer base Nintendo should worry about, the truth of the matter is that the casual base is quite important still. If they include backwards compatibility, they have a chance of bringing back casual gamers on top of hardcore ones bumping up their sales and keeping the casuals away from Sony and Microsoft. So I would expect the controllers that were purchased for the Wii to still work for some games which would also avoid the alienation of Wii owners.

Remember, Sony and Microsoft both received a bit of backlash when their compatibility was removed from consoles. Microsoft technically did not remove it I believe, but it only allows certain first gen Xbox games to be played. Sony did remove it fully in later PS3 hardware. If Nintendo keeps backwards compatibility, still releases games for the Wii, their Wii software sales will probably increase as well too. Especially if they release older games such as Mario Galaxy or Super Smash Bros Wii that the detracted hardcore gamers never got to play in the first place. So while the Wii may eventually die off, Nintendo could still squeeze out sales from the Wii software and even get more sales for it post-Wii than they did present-Wii.

6. Innovation

Nintendo has done quite a bit for gaming. There has been negative response such as the Virtual Boy and there has been lukewarm response such as motion controls, and there has been positive response like the Game Boy. Say what you will about some Nintendo products, but they can normally put SOMETHING different out there. Some are thinking that the controller may be this type of innovation with it's touch screen and what that could mean for potential games, and some are thinking they could take a step beyond what failed with the Gamecube and find a way to link games between the handheld systems and the console itself. With next to nothing known about the new console, these are the only two real possibilities. Remember, 3D was originally thought of on the Gamecube as well, and the same with motion gaming. Both fell through and showed up in later forms. The link between the GBA (I believe it was) and the Gamecube was also something that never quite worked out. However, with the number of handheld love growing since the release of the DS's all the way to the 3DS, there's a chance that these handhelds may not be required, but can give players more incentive to own both the handheld and console for exclusive gameplay.


7. Third party and indie developers

And the straw that broke the camels back for Nintendo. The only thing that worked for the Wii were first party games or acutal party games. The Wii was not the console for third party developers and very weak for independent devs as well. Any ports from consoles were done poorly and it got to the point where no developers other than first party were worth supporting on the Wii. Project Cafe is already said to be correcting that with Rockstar already being mentioned as a developer for the console. So with Nintendo being the company with the best selling first party games, the third party games now appearing on the new console, and the other consoles finding themselves with fewer and fewer exclusives, Nintendo may be riding high with games upon the release of Project Cafe.


Depending on who you ask, the console wars boil down to two things. The fans will say that the winner of the console wars is the one that gets played the most. The companies themselves would say the sales are what matter the most. If Nintendo takes the proper steps, they can win both sides of the argument and make the next generation of consoles for Sony and Microsoft to be embarrassments. I don't think this will be the case since Nintendo tends to hold back leaving room for the other companies to improve on what Nintendo should do. The possibility is there, however, and if Nintendo wants to put an end to these console wars they need to look past the boardroom and at the fans. We know what we want.