The gaming industry showed off its latest games and technological advancements at E3, the top video game convention in Los Angeles. Kris Abel rounds up the hottest announcements.
Nintendo
- With the Wii out-selling both the Xbox 360 and the PS3, and with the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance currently making up for half of all system sales, Nintendo is currently the leader of the video game market.
- More self-improvement games: Expect a sequel to Brain Age plus other versions that will help you improve your vision (Flash Focus), grammar and spelling (My Word Coach), learn French or Spanish, and even organize your life (My Life Coach)
- Wii Fit - This is designed around a new wireless controller called the balance board. You step on it like a bathroom scale and it can detect every shift in movement of your body. The included game for it features exercise routines for stepping, yoga and aerobics.
- The board can be used to measure your Body Mass Index and can record it every day in a Wii Journal. Of course the board can also be used for games
- Hoola Hoops. This game involving bouncing balls on your head is due early next year.
Microsoft
The Xbox Live Video Marketplace is coming to Canada by the end of this year. The online store lets you rent and buy both movies and televisions shows through your Xbox 360. You can choose to download the video in either standard or High Definition. They are stored on your Xbox system just as you would store music files on your iPod or home computer.
Xbox Live Video Marketplace has already launched in the U.S. The service has been very popular with movies available from Disney, Paramount, Warner and TV shows from CBS and MTV. The service is an interesting alternative to HD-DVD/Blu-ray.
Along with the movie store comes a version of the popular trivia game 'Scene It?' for the Xbox 360, this time offering video clips in full high-definition.
Sony
After a very disappointing launch for the PlayStation 3, Sony is working hard on a comeback.
Price Drop
Sony just dropped the price of the PS3 by $100 ($550)and announced a new version with a bigger hard drive that sells for the old price ($650).
New PlayStation Portable
It looks exactly the same as the old one, except it is slimmer, lighter, and you can connect it up to a television to play your games and watch your movies on a bigger screen.
Home
Every PlayStation 3 user will be getting their own virtual apartment that they can use like a Facebook account. The 3D social profile includes a video game version of your self that you can use to explore your apartment, hang digital pcitures from your camera on the wall and entertain online friends. You can also throw virtual parties and decorate your place with trophies. It's an exciting, interesting concept.
All Systems
Rock Band - This game expands on the popular Guitar Hero concept by offering all the instruments (microphone, drums, rhythm and bass guitar). E3 has featured some "bands" in performance and it looks awesome.
