(No Ratings Yet) 
There has been a lot of talk about E3 having a different vibe this year — for game journalist Harold Goldberg, the show has lost its rhythm altogether. Walk a few steps in his shoes in his latest travelog.
(No Ratings Yet) 
While E3 officially opens tomorrow, the action has already begun in Los Angeles with the kick off of both Microsoft and EA’s press conferences today.
(No Ratings Yet) 
I have to admit, I walked out of Microsoft’s Press Briefing disappointed. Gears 2 is looking fantastic, and the more or less expected cooperative stuff is fine. But considering Microsoft couldn’t stop a leak to save their life (which is status quo) we pretty much knew everything before we stepped into the LA Convention Center. Well, outside of the Final Fantasy XIII reveal, which is big news indeed.
I understand MS wants to go after the expanded audience Nintendo created with the Wii and DS, but I want more hardcore games. I don’t care if I have Miis on my Xbox 360. Banjo doesn’t excite me. Viva Piñata doesn’t excite me. And this year. Microsoft is relying quite heavily on third parties in 2008, and while Fable 2 and Gears 2 will do well, Alan Wake was a no-show again this year, and we still have no clue where Peter Jackson’s stuff is at, or what Bungie is up to.
Oh well. At least the Crispy crew got together for an awesome French dip sandwich afterwards. Good sandwiches do excite me.
(No Ratings Yet) 
They had me on standby! Not that it mattered, I got in anyway …
Sitting with Jones, Scott Alexander of Playboy (and Crispy Convert) and Harold. Lots of video screens, loud music and green … everything you’ve come to expect from a press briefing (except the 360 green). It’s a show and supposed to be entertainment. We’ll see if it turns out that way. These turn out mildly entertaining because of the comedic value from people trying to be funny and failing miserably.
