E3 is a trade show for video games and this year it was host to Nintendo, SONY and Microsoft.

 

SONY's keynote was first on Monday. PS3 will cost US $599 and US $499. HDMI, Wi-Fi and the 60 GB hard drive (2.5"?) are featured on the high end; 20 GB on the low end. The new gamepad will be wireless, feature a tilt sensor but lack rumble. USB ports will be used for recharging.

 

On Tuesday Nintendo introduced the Wii by having game maestro Shigeru Miyamoto conduct a virtual orchestra live on the internet. The console will come with wi-fi, IBM processor, ATI graphics and ports for GameCube controllers and memory cards. The Wii controller features tilt sensors, accelerometers, infrared, wireless and rumble. Graphically it is a few steps ahead of the GameCube but 9 GB of data is held by its discs. For perspective, GC used 1.5 GB media, XBox 360 also uses 9 GB.

 

Red Steel was demonstrated live and seemed easy to control. Even easier was tennis in Wii Sports, a new title by Nintendo. Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3 Corruption and Twilight Pincess will be part of the launch line-up. Another new title will be Excite Truck, the first racing game for Wii.

 

XBox 360 has Halo 3 coming. The general consensus amongst journalists was that PS3 software did not look better than XBox 360, although many were excited at the prospect of Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy sequels. Lost Planet on the XBox 360 looks very impressive.

 

Based on all that was shown on E3 I predict Wii dominating the next generation of consoles by a wide margin from Xbox 360 and PS3. Both SONY and Microsoft people suggested that a Wii would be a better "second console" compared to each other's products. Interesting isn't it? What will happen when their customers take that advice? Wii consoles will outnumber XBox 360 and PS3. Add to that the elderly, women, adults who are attracted to the physical elements of Wii control for themselves and their kids, Brain Training fans, etc. and suddenly the market for consoles has boomed. If Nintendo can keep up with demand it will sell a lot more consoles than SONY can produce while Microsoft will capitalize on recent improvements in the manufacturing of XBox 360s.

 

My expectations of E3 were high but Nintendo met them and Microsoft surprised me. Did Microsoft look strong because SONY faltered? It does not matter. I am going to buy Wii and then I may think about "a second console."