E3 2013: Day 1

Sony and Microsoft square off…again: Which machine will become the definitive 8th generation console, the PS4 or the Xbox One?

This year’s E3 is set to encapsulate all the splendor and excitement that gamers have come to expect from the annual event.  The big news items this time around of course are the official unveiling and release of both the Xbox One and PS4.  Both of these consoles are graphical powerhouses which lean heavily on some of the well-worn features of their predecessors.  Yet at the same time, both machines are pushing boundaries in their own unique way(s); for example, online services are emerging as centrally important characteristics, some of which hope to change the way gamers both interact with others as well as receive entertainment in general.  Anyway, without further ado, let’s explore some of the more newsworthy items from the first day of E3 2013…

Microsoft’s fun launch title lineup

At this point most people would have you believe that the Xbox One doesn’t have anything going for it at all, which would be wrong.  Sure, they were definitely spanked by Sony (pretty hard), but if there’s one avenue where Microsoft does have appeal, it’s in CONTENT.  The start of E3 has seen Microsoft unveil a large slew of appealing upcoming titles for the Xbox One, including an alluring kinect title called “RYSE”, which is being developed by Crytek.    Among the other new or upcoming games were the following (largely expected) titles:

Microsoft Unveil some exciting game titles. On the other hand, Sony also has some interesting titles on the table… (see more about PS4 at E3 day 1 here).

• Metal Gear Solid 5

• Halo 5

• Titanfall

• Below

• Quantum Break

• Crimson Dragon

• Forza 5

• Star Wars Battlefront

• Splinter Cell Blacklist

• Mirror’s Edge

• Assassin’s Creed IV

• Watch Dogs

• Tom Clancy’s: The Division

• Battlefield 4

• Project Spark

• Sunset Overdrive

• D4

• Dead Rising 3

Each one of these games touches upon some interesting aspect or well-known genre, making it appear as though the Xbox One will most likely carry a stronger and possibly larger and more diverse selection of launch titles than the PS4.  Of course that’s pure speculation, we won’t know exactly what to expect in that department until we draw closer to the actual launch date(s) for both consoles.

One thing is certain however, Microsoft is seeking to market the Xbox One as a sort of all-in-one home entertainment device, which is quite admirable.  What’s more, they’re doing this without sacrificing the unit’s gaming performance abilities, which is arguably the most important thing, and is something that virtually all gamers are interested in.   When you consider the fact that the Xbox One could theoretically replace an assortment of other electronic devices, the steep price tag doesn’t seem to be all that disparaging.  However, as most people already own many of the independent components found in a basic home entertainment setup, it’s unclear how consumers will interpret and engage the console at this time.

E3 Day 1:  In summary

The main thing to take away from E3 Day 1 is that Sony pretty much took the lead, at least with a perceived majority of gamers.  It’s not hard to see why people might be inclined to turn towards the PS4 at this point given that it seems to provide a much freer and more open platform for individuals to focus on what’s important, namely ? gaming.  The average user just wants to be able to borrow their friend’s copy of some game and plop it into their console without having to worry about paying licensing fees (for used physical media).  Nevertheless, Microsoft’s Xbox One certainly has an impressive line up of titles to its credit, which is absolutely critical.  So it seems in the end that Microsoft might end up pulling people in with its exciting software launches, while Sony is focusing on a more hardware-based appeal that is born of overall value as well as more user-friendly attributes.   All in all, it was a great day and there’s plenty to look forward to tomorrow!  Stay tuned…