E3 So Far · 5:28pm Jun 12th, 2017
EA
On the EA side of things, Star Wars Battlefront II and Need For Speed Payback both have my attention. But in both cases, my wallet is waiting for reviews.
Microsoft
As I predicted, Microsoft's conference was a big box of meh. Project Scorpio, unveiled last night as Xbox One X, is a premium console aimed at one group: gamers who want to upgrade, but don't want to hook up a gaming PC in their living room. In my opinion, that's not going to move a lot of units. Games-wise, nothing really impressed. Halo was a no-show for the first time since 2008.
Bethesda
Hey, would you look at that. Skyrim for Switch. The Nintendo Switch is finally getting a third-party title. Sure, it's six years old and has Zelda-themed items included for those who can't stop jizzing over anything related to the Hero of Hyrule, but I digress; it's entirely too easy to shit on Nintendo's latest console offering. And yes, I know you can take it on the go and play it for a whole two hours before it's screaming for a wall socket, I know.
Leading up to this conference, I began to temper my expectations, so was not surprised when Elder Scrolls VI was a no-show. What does have me a little interested is Doom VFR, which I can only assume stands for Virtual Fucking Reality. I just have to get to a place that will let me demo an HTC Vive, because I don't want to buy an $800 piece of hardware just to find out it makes me motion-sick.
What I take away:
We're halfway done with E3. So to Microsoft and Sony, I say this: Stop with the fucking 4K.
Again: 4K GAMING IS NOT FUCKING HERE YET.
You know what you need to do? 1080p with a rock-solid 60 frames per second. When you've got that nailed down beyond a shadow of a doubt (yes, that includes objects and players on the other side of the map, 343 Industries), then start cranking the graphics needle up.
All in all, I've still got a PS4 (or PS4 Pro) in my perpetual sights once I've got my new PC built, to experience the likes of Last of Us Part II and Horizon Zero Dawn. But I've been saying for years how little of a graphical jump the Xbox One and Playstation 4 were at launch in 2013. Usually what happens is a new generation of console brings living room gaming up to par with the current standard of PC gaming for maybe a year. That didn't happen this time, and only now, in 2017, are both companies taking the hint.
In short: the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X are what console gamers should have had back in November 2013; not now, when the next generation of consoles is probably no more than two years away.
Yeah, I'm not really that impressed so far either. The only thing that actually caught my attention after watching the XBox briefing was Ori, and I didn't even bother with Bethesda. I'm probably only gonna watch the Ubisoft briefing today. I'm waiting for Nintendo tomorrow. I don't get why they're putting so much focus on 4k. Only so many people can probably actually afford that kind of tech now given the way they're talking about it, even if it should've been available sooner like you're suggesting (I'm not the most tech-savvy person). I mean, I JUST got my Switch, and I'm not bothering with another version of the XB1 if everything that comes out going forward (before the next generation console) is still compatible with the original One. Since the Switch just came out, I'm assuming that Nintendo is just going to focus on their upcoming games, so that should actually be pretty fun. I guess we'll see.
So far, the only things that have interested me are Metro: Exodus (Which is coming to Steam and PS4, so I don't know why it was featured in XBOX's conference), the Dishonored DLC, and Wolfenstein II. Everything else is just meh so far. Hopefully the rest of E3 is better.
Wait so the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro are just the same consoles with a slight graphic update?
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Yep. More GPU and CPU power, offering 4K resolution or upscaling in one form or another.
Me? I've got a triple 1080p setup here, and if I'm going anywhere, it's to a 1440p ultrawide screen.
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Well there goes any chance of me getting either one.
Eh, if I am gonna get a one or the other, I am getting an Xbox One X.
Also wanna say thank you Miles for not being one of "those" guys/gals who whine about the new system's pricepoint.
E3 hasn't been worthwhile since it was close to the public.
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It will be a timed Win 10 snd XBOX exclusive
I kind of liked the look of Anthem, it likely won't look nearly as beautiful as what was shown but one can hope.
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We can pray it won't be as bad as ME:Andromeda on day 1.
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And Ubisoft went and made my day!!!
Was it Far Cry 5? Nope (but still looking forward to it).
Assassin's Creed Origins? Wrong-o.
South Park The Fractured But Whole? I do want it, but it is not the reason for this smile plastering my face.
The Crew 2? Definitely not.
What about Starlink? Guess again.
It was mother-f***ing BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL 2!!!!!