Having finally had a chance to digest everything that was E3 it is only fair that I give a bit of a talk on my experiences with everything Sony. For Sony E3 was supposed to be about the PS3, and it was, but they also managed to show the gaming world that the PS2 and the PSP still play an important role in their overall gaming strategy. Our time with Sony started on the Monday before the actual E3 conference. Frank and I had the chance to attend Sony’s annual Press Briefing at Sony Studios in Culver City. It was nice to leave the smog of L.A. as Culver City is very close to the coast and the air is much cleaner. Once inside Sony studios we were treated to food, beverages and some time outside to relax. This was much appreciated as we had arrived in L.A. earlier that morning so to get some food in the belly, followed by a few beverages (mmmmmmmmmm Becks beer) was something that helped me get back in gear. We also had the chance to download some PSP updates and media which we could view at our own leisure. After filling our tummies and chatting with various attendees it was time to get into the massive line that was forming to get inside the studio stage to see what Sony had to offer. Sony separated everyone by sections this year and we were lucky enough to get section one. Frank and I ended up sitting 3 rows from the stage (THANK YOU SCE CANADA!). The conference started later then expected so my aching back took a beating while waiting in line, but once inside the comfort of the shaded building I had a chance to sit down and relax prior to the show. The briefing itself was a long one, topping in easily over two hours. Kaz started off the day with sales number, the first being a staggering number of how PS2 software shipments worldwide totaled 1.047 billion. That is a lot of games people. And to show that Sony wasn’t giving up on the PS2 he showed a list of 18 titles that are still going to rock their current generation system (e.g. FFXII, God of War 2 and SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals: Combined Assault to name a few) over the next year. He then went to tout that PSP has sold a total of 17.03 million units worldwide since is launch in March 2005 and that this number is only going to go up. This shows that many people are supporters of the little multimedia gaming device. Sony is firmly behind the PSP with future releases of a camera and GPS system for their handheld machine and there are a lot of games being developed. Also shown was the much touted PSone emulation that Sony is going to support for the PSP as well. A demo of the original Ridge Racer from the launch of the PSone was played on stage and many in the crowd chuckled at how far games have come since Sony first launched the PSone. That being said, many people are looking forward to playing classic PSone games on their PSP. Of course everyone came to see the PS3 and after the formalities of the PS2 and PSP Sony took the stage to show what they had in store for the next chapter in the console wars. One of the first games demoed was a high definition version of GT4 running in 1920 x 1080p. This demo was made exclusively for E3 to demonstrate how the PS3 could run a game in what they say is true HD. It was evident that this was a very clean version of the game as everything was sharp and crystal clear. The image on the giant screen was pixel free, the frame rate was solid and there wasn’t a single hiccup to be seen during the demonstration. The only problem I had with this demo was that it was still Gran Turismo 4 from the PS2 ported for the PS3 and it showed the same flat and bland textures that make up GT4 on the PS2, but now in 1080p high resolution. That being said the game running was a testament to the PS3’s ability to run 1080p and I am really intrigued by what games will come out in the future running in this high resolution format. Throughout the briefing Sony showed various games for the PS3 and only a few stood out for me. 8 Days by (SCE), an unnamed adventure by Naughty Dog and Heavenly Sword (SCE) were by far my favorites of the briefing. EA also showed a very interesting snippet of NBA Live 07 that demonstrated how alive the players are as they follow the ball with not only their bodies, but their heads and eyes too. This demo really showed me how developers are trying to make their game that much more lifelike and how they can take advantage of the processing horsepower of next-gen consoles. On of the things I was really looking forward to at Sony’s Press Briefing was seeing what their online plans were. I have been playing Xbox Live since its’ beta testing days so I have experienced the evolution of online console services from the start. I think Sony has a tough act to follow when it comes to their online service as Microsoft has set the bar very high. Various features were demoed by Sony at the Press Briefing and I have to say that Sony’s service very much mirrors Xbox Live. They say when people copy what you have that is seen flattery at its best, and it looks like Microsoft has been flattered to the max. Sony is touting the ease of use, friend’s lists, online stores and even cards that one buys for use on the online network to purchase items. Sony also showed how that have partnered up with various music groups to provide HD music and video content for one of their Karaoke games. The major difference that Sony is touting over Microsoft’s online service is that there is no charge for gamers to use it. I found this interesting, and it was to be expected, but I really wonder how they are going to pull off an online network as good as Xbox Live for no subscription fee and add to this that they are leaving a lot of work for the developers to figure out, or at least that is what it seems. I am going to have to keep an open mind on this one and see what future developments hold for Sony’s online network. Sony had two more cards up its’ sleeve before ending the Press Briefing. One announcement that took everyone by storm was the new controller. It was well touted that the boomerang controller of last year’s E3 was a prototype and that this year the final version would be shown. The new controller for the PS3 is not that new at all; it is a 3rd generation of the Dual Shock that has controlled the PS brand of consoles for years. However, what the crowd did not expect was that this controller would take a page from Nintendo’s book and have motion control as it has been equipped with a highly sensitive six axis sensing system. Sony has opted out of the vibration (rumble) feature that has been in previous controllers. This is to allow the new six way sensing system for the new Dual Shock 3. A demo of Warhawk was shown using the new controller. As the plane took flight it was controlled by moving the controller itself, and not the dual analog thumbsticks that so many gamers are accustomed too. Interestingly enough it was noted that the developers of Warhawk only had a few weeks to implement this control as they were told at the last minute of the new motion sensing ability of the controller. It will be interesting to see how developers utilize the new Dual Shock 3’s motion sensing control in future games. The other announcement during the Press Briefing was launch information, including date and price. This really caught me off guard as I thought for sure they would announce the price closer to launch. It was announced that they are going to do a global launch of the PS3 and have it launch around the world with days of each part of the globe (N. America, Japan and Europe). Here in North America we get the PS3 on November 17. There are two versions of the system. The first is the 20GB HDD version for $499(USD)/$599(Can) while the second is a 60GB HDD version for $549(USD)/$659(Can). There are some major differences worth noting between the two versions. The 20GB version has no Memory Stick/SD/Compact Flash capabilities; it has no Wi-Fi and has no HDMI out. This was not mentioned at the Press Briefing and was quite a surprise to me and Frank when we found this out. Regardless, the machine is still the PS3 with the Cell Processor, Nvidia developed graphics chip set and a Blu-Ray Player included. This machine should be capable of some good looking and playing games once developers get a feel for the hardware. When we exited the stage we were in the weather had cooled off and the California Sun was setting. Sony was kind enough to once again have some food outside along with some ice cold beverages. Frank and I nibbled on some sushi, chicken, and some other funky appy’s and we then headed back to the hotel for a good nights rest. Once back at the hotel we formulated some questions for our interview at Sony’s booth on the following Thursday, 2½ days later. Prior to out interview I managed to spend some time at Sony’s booth. I mainly walked the floor watching what others were playing and stepping in the odd line for game or two of something that caught my eye. Although not all the games to make my top 3 list were at the Sony booth I was most impressed with the following (top 3 for each): Playstation 3: Heavenly Sword – When I saw this game demo at the Press Briefing I knew I would love it. And the more time I spent watching it at the booth the more it sold me even more. A very artistic title, this game has visuals that really are an indication of what is to come. The fight scenes were amazing and watching the multitude of moves had me excited for a fighting/adventure style game again. Virtua Tennis 3 – I have been a Virtua Tennis fan since the days of the Dreamcast. This latest version looks fabulous. The graphics and player animations, even at this early stage, really show what the future holds for this series. Sure, some say that this is a pumped up version pong, but it is the way I envision that a next-generation tennis game should be. 8 Days – Although I only saw this demo at the Press Briefing the game really has me excited. I great mix of action and cinematics really shows what they are going to do with this game. I was caught off guard as the main character jumped through a pane of glass into a nearby restaurant and immediately was in battle with an enemy. This scene really showed me how the cinematics and gameplay mesh so smoothly in this game and I have to say that 8 Days really looks great. Playstation 2: God of War 2 – A sequel to what was a surprise hit, this game looks great even in its early stages. As for the gameplay, it controls very well so far before final release in 2007. What I had a chance to experience is just an earlier indicator of what is to come and a reason to hold on to the PS2. Phantasy Star Universe – With a single player game that is very separate from the online portion who can ask for more in a Phantasy Star title. I wasted many hours of multiple versions of Phantasy Star Online and this game looks to take even more of my time, and life, away. Final Fantasy XII – Although I am not a diehard RPG’er, this Final Fantasy looks great. It’s been available in Japan for awhile and it was nice to see how the game looks and translates into a localized version. Final Fantasy maniacs should not be disappointed. PSP: Killzone: Liberation – The game is a combination of action and strategy as you not only run and gun but you also get to order troops around to lay mines and explosives in an attempt to make your enemy pay. Round this off with some great visuals, promising multiplayer and a story that follows two months after the PS2 Killzone and you have one immersive title. Tekken: Dark Resurrection – I have never been a huge fighting game fan but I have enjoyed the Tekken series since the days of the PSone. Well it looks like Tekken is back on my radar. With great graphics and good control (at this early state) this PSP version has me realizing that I am going to get the portable version of Tekken that I have always dreamed of. LocoRoco – I am not a huge puzzle fan, but I just couldn’t pass this one up. Having the chance to play as a big ball of ooze peaked my interest immediately. Navigating all the traps and puzzles in this game had me quite surprisingly hooked. And the fact that you not only control your character but your environment too added yet another layer to this game. Puzzle fanatics are going love this game. 2½ days after seeing all that media information at Sony Studios, and taking some time to walk the show floor, Frank and I were privileged to sit-down with Matt Levitan, PR and Marketing Manager for Sony Computer Entertainment Canada. Our time with him was limited (about 20 minutes or so) as we were his last interview for the day and when the show closed down for the night staff wanted us out as quickly as possible. One of my main questions to him was on the Sony’s decision to sell two different versions of the PS3. I politely reminded him that Sony was very adamant that Microsoft’s two SKU approach (core vs. premium) was bad for the consumer as they said it confused things and made the whole process convoluted. I was curious as I found Sony’s new strategy very similar to what Microsoft did and wanted to see what Matt had to say. He agreed that they did not support Microsoft’s strategy for launching the Xbox 360 with two separate SKU’s, but he pointed out that Sony’s approach for their launch of the PS3 is very different from Microsoft’s launch of the 360. He pointed out that buyers of either the 20GB HDD or 60GB HDD package were getting very similar machines. The internal workings are identical as each buyer gets a Blu-Ray and Cell equipped machine. He stated that each has a hard drive included, which is a benefit for gamers as developers can program their games knowing that all PS3’s will have a HDD available at launch. Matt also noted that although the HDMI port was missing on the 20GB version gamers could still get HD images for gaming through the use of the Multi-AV out and component cables. I did not disagree with him when it came to games in HD but as the PS3 is not just a gaming machine, but a high definition Blu-Ray move player too, I was worried about the lack of the HDMI. Once studios finally start to work with HDCP the only way for HD movies to be displayed in true 1080p resolution would be through HDMI as the use of component cables, which are analog, will cause the movie to scale down to half of the available lines of resolution. Although Matt knew a ton about the PS3 he stated that this was more home theatre related and although he knew a bit about this he was not fully aware as to the nature of how this would affect the PS3 and movie playback. When wrapping up our discussion of the rest of the omitted features on the 20GB version Matt noted that the lack of Wi-Fi can be easily solved by the fact that gamers can still hook up to the internet using the Ethernet jack in the back of the PS3. He didn’t comment too much on the lack of the Memory Stick/SD/Compact Flash capabilities, but he did point out there is still the available USB ports on the PS3’s that people can get creative with. Time was dwindling down on our interview as the day was coming to a close. I did ask him about the lack of high profile games from last years E3 like Gran Turismo for the PSP or the next Killzone for the PS3. Matt gave us a smile and stated that the developers for each game have very different priorities. He pointed out that Polyphony Digital Studios worked very hard at getting the Gran Turismo HD demo ready for the show and that any version of the GT series coming out for the PSP would come out when the time is right. He also pointed out how the majority of the Killzone team is actually working on Killzone: Liberation for the PSP and Killzone for the PS3 is still being worked on, but not by all the people they would like at the time. He then noted that by the number of available games on the Playstation floor (PS3, PS2 and PSP) that a lot of studios have thrown a lot of resources at maintaining quality titles for all Sony branded machines. As we finished up this part of the conversation we were ushered out from behind the booth as people wanted to go home. I had more questions to ask, but I had to thank Matt for his time and save the rest of the questions for another time. Besides, it was good they got me out when they did as I had to go back to the hotel to freshen up as I had an invite to Sony’s E3 Party that I didn’t want to miss. And for those wondering, the food, the beverages and the entertainment (Incubus in concert live – wooooooohoooooooo) at the party was stellar. I didn’t get a chance to thank anyone at E3 for the chance to go to the party, so I would like to thank Kyle Moffat (Sony Canada) and Chris Wood (Maverick PR – one of Sony’s other PR people) for the opportunity to attend this great and highly touted event. I have included some pictures from the Press Briefing as well as a few from Sony’s E3 booth. A couple of the pictures from the booth were taken first thing on Day 1 of the E3 trade show. During the first two hours at E3 on Day 1 the show floor was only open for media coverage, hence why the crowds seem small in some of the pictures. Enjoy, Kirby Y