So, I said I would post an article about the happenings at the E3 press conference. This specific event should get as much attention as possible, since it's the one that leads us into the next generation of consoles. The Xbox One, the PlayStation 4 and the Wii U. These are the names of the machines that will take a place in almost every single living room. But in what analogy? Knowing the financial situation the common household is in, most people will only be able to purchase one of these technological wonders. So, which one? People before E3 really did have that dilemma. What to buy? They were hoping the conference would lead them into an easier choice.
The day before E3 2013 opened it's doors to the public, four press conferences had been scheduled. Microsoft, EA, Ubisoft and Sony in succession were programmed to reveal their plans for the season and what they would be showing off to the lucky ones that attended.
Microsoft took the stage first. People had been skeptical about MS's Xbox One since they announced their used game and game-sharing policies. Also, MS hadn't really shown a lot of game titles in their May reveal of the Xbox One. So, this time their plan was to come out guns blazing. They showed off a bunch of game trailers for both Xbox 360 and Xbox One, one after another in an attempt to make everyone forget about what had happened back in the opening presentation. And it worked... almost. Just before the curtain closed after a marvelous presentation of games (which opened with Metal Gear Solid V including Kiefer Sutherland as Solid Snake), they announced the price: 499$. Sighs of disappointment were heard all around the screening room.
500$ is a bit too much to ask nowadays just for a gaming console, but Microsft took into account the fact that the Xbox One is not just a gaming console, but a movie streamer, a web-chatting device and much more. It's capabilities justify it's price but (in this humble writers opinion) Microsoft forgot about their target audience.
Then, after the EA and Ubisoft presentations (which included a hilarious South Park video, among other impressing games and trailers), along came Sony. Sony's presentation was similar to Microsoft's in the account that it was full of new game trailers. But, those trailers weren't all about the PS4. Sony dedicated half an hour of their 2 hour presentation talking about the PS Vita and the PS3. They showed that just because the PS4 is going to be released, that doesn't mean that the previous generation will be getting any less attention from them.
Then came the PS4. It's reveal was impressive. Small, elegant and easy to carry or place, I don't think this PlayStation will be getting another edition (like the PS3 slim). It doesn't need it! And then along came the trailers. There were trailers for all traits and even the jaw-dropping Kingdom Hearts 3, which is in development. But Sony's victory came afterwards.
Just before the end, a Sony representative came on stage for what most thought would be the closing statements. He didn't do that. Instead, he decided to take a DIRECT SHOT at Microsoft's policies. He stated that the PS4 does NOT need to update once everyday and thus is useable even without internet connection, he said that players can SHARE GAMES without restrictions and finally he announced that the PS4's price will be at 399$! Sony's mockery of Microsoft did not stop there though, as they even went as far as to create a Youtube video about how players can "share the games on the PS4".
That was the game-clincher! After that, Nintendo's pre-recorder broadcast was almost rendered useless. Everyone had made up their mind! After the conference, all you would see in the forums was "Yup! Definitely going with Sony!". And even though players of the younger ages might choose to go with the Wii U and the 3DS is the go-to for the handheld market because of the wide variety of games they offer, but in general the console war was a triumph for Sony.
Microsoft actually gave Sony the chance they were looking for to make the PS4 shine even brighter. Microsoft as I mentioned earlier, forgot that their target audience was gamers. Those are the people that will run out and get the console. If someone other than that is looking for a device with the features the Xbox One offers, they could just as easily turn to a new-gen HD TV. Sony, on the other hand, remembered to make a console that had gamers as a target audience, and are trying to expand from that, with features like Netflix, Sony Pictures and Sony Music, and much more. Sony also had learned from their painful previous mistake with the pricing of the PS3, and so they put the cherry on the cake by making it available 100$ cheaper than the Xbox One.
What happened after that? PS4's pre-orders have gone through the roof and according to a poll by IGN, 81% think Sony "won at E3".( http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/06/15/who-is-winning-e3) So, there you have it! Apparently E3 did help people make up their minds as to which console they'll be going into the next generation with, and the PS4 (releasing at the end of the year) will be quite a popular trend next year!
The day before E3 2013 opened it's doors to the public, four press conferences had been scheduled. Microsoft, EA, Ubisoft and Sony in succession were programmed to reveal their plans for the season and what they would be showing off to the lucky ones that attended.
Microsoft took the stage first. People had been skeptical about MS's Xbox One since they announced their used game and game-sharing policies. Also, MS hadn't really shown a lot of game titles in their May reveal of the Xbox One. So, this time their plan was to come out guns blazing. They showed off a bunch of game trailers for both Xbox 360 and Xbox One, one after another in an attempt to make everyone forget about what had happened back in the opening presentation. And it worked... almost. Just before the curtain closed after a marvelous presentation of games (which opened with Metal Gear Solid V including Kiefer Sutherland as Solid Snake), they announced the price: 499$. Sighs of disappointment were heard all around the screening room.
500$ is a bit too much to ask nowadays just for a gaming console, but Microsft took into account the fact that the Xbox One is not just a gaming console, but a movie streamer, a web-chatting device and much more. It's capabilities justify it's price but (in this humble writers opinion) Microsoft forgot about their target audience.
Then, after the EA and Ubisoft presentations (which included a hilarious South Park video, among other impressing games and trailers), along came Sony. Sony's presentation was similar to Microsoft's in the account that it was full of new game trailers. But, those trailers weren't all about the PS4. Sony dedicated half an hour of their 2 hour presentation talking about the PS Vita and the PS3. They showed that just because the PS4 is going to be released, that doesn't mean that the previous generation will be getting any less attention from them.
Then came the PS4. It's reveal was impressive. Small, elegant and easy to carry or place, I don't think this PlayStation will be getting another edition (like the PS3 slim). It doesn't need it! And then along came the trailers. There were trailers for all traits and even the jaw-dropping Kingdom Hearts 3, which is in development. But Sony's victory came afterwards.
Just before the end, a Sony representative came on stage for what most thought would be the closing statements. He didn't do that. Instead, he decided to take a DIRECT SHOT at Microsoft's policies. He stated that the PS4 does NOT need to update once everyday and thus is useable even without internet connection, he said that players can SHARE GAMES without restrictions and finally he announced that the PS4's price will be at 399$! Sony's mockery of Microsoft did not stop there though, as they even went as far as to create a Youtube video about how players can "share the games on the PS4".
That was the game-clincher! After that, Nintendo's pre-recorder broadcast was almost rendered useless. Everyone had made up their mind! After the conference, all you would see in the forums was "Yup! Definitely going with Sony!". And even though players of the younger ages might choose to go with the Wii U and the 3DS is the go-to for the handheld market because of the wide variety of games they offer, but in general the console war was a triumph for Sony.
Microsoft actually gave Sony the chance they were looking for to make the PS4 shine even brighter. Microsoft as I mentioned earlier, forgot that their target audience was gamers. Those are the people that will run out and get the console. If someone other than that is looking for a device with the features the Xbox One offers, they could just as easily turn to a new-gen HD TV. Sony, on the other hand, remembered to make a console that had gamers as a target audience, and are trying to expand from that, with features like Netflix, Sony Pictures and Sony Music, and much more. Sony also had learned from their painful previous mistake with the pricing of the PS3, and so they put the cherry on the cake by making it available 100$ cheaper than the Xbox One.
What happened after that? PS4's pre-orders have gone through the roof and according to a poll by IGN, 81% think Sony "won at E3".( http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/06/15/who-is-winning-e3) So, there you have it! Apparently E3 did help people make up their minds as to which console they'll be going into the next generation with, and the PS4 (releasing at the end of the year) will be quite a popular trend next year!
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