I am not able to understand where to start? It’s the E3 games trade show in Santa Monica, California that has sprayed its fragrance all around the world. As lots of announcements are coming promptly from various software and hardware developers, so you may have perhaps missed many things in the windstorm. Here I come with a summary of announcements made by Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo at the very first day of show.
Sony
However, Sony has already made its major announcement i.e. $100 price-drop for the PS3, still it managed to keep the audience rapt as SCEA President Kaz Hirai revealed a new version of the PSP hardware. As you throw an eye on the new PSP, it doesn’t look much different from outside, but it’s supposed to be 33% lighter, 19% slimmer, offer better battery life, faster game load times, and video output to TVs.
The new PSP will be available in three colors: piano black, ice silver and white with a Darth Vader logo on the back. The latter will come bundled in a Star Wars Battlefront entertainment pack. The trimmed down version is likely to hit the market this fall.
Moreover, Sony has denied the PS3 price-drop for Europe.
Nintendo
Wii Zapper
At Nintendo’s press conference, we found Reggie reviving 80’s era revealing Zapper of modern age for making Wii-shooting game a more pleasing experience. The new shooting peripheral is an enhanced version the Zapper, displayed at last year’s E3. The new Zapper will cost around $19.99.
The new Zapper is completely redesigned with cradles for both the Wii-mote and the Nunchuck. As the peripheral is a bit big in size, you need to hold it with both hands while controlling movement with the analog stick and shooting with the trigger in the front.
Games like Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles and EA’s upcoming title in Medal of Honor series are few latest titles, which the Zapper will play well with. The Zapper is likely to ship later this year.
Wii Wheel
As Reggie hinted at the probability of more MMO racing games in the near future, it revealed an official steering wheel accessory. The Wii Wheel will come bundled with new Mario Kart game sometime next year.
WiiFit: Balancing Board Peripheral
The last and perhaps the biggest announcement that concluded Nintendo’s E3 2007 press conference is especially designed for moms to get their figure back in a perfect shape. WiiFit will combine four major forms of exercise and fitness development solutions like aerobic, muscular, yoga, and balancing exercises.
Compatible with different mini-games, WiiFit peripheral makes you do some push-ups, step aerobics, and much more. More or less, the balance board is a portable fitness center that measures your weight first and help figure out your Body Mass Index. With balancing and pressure sensing functionalities, the wireless board can analyze how much you are leaning to the left or right to be up in the game.
No Wii price drop yet
Appreciating the swelling Wii sales, Reggie denied any possible Wii price cut. The official said that Nintendo has presently no such plans in the pipeline.
Microsoft
Light Blue and Pink Wireless controllers
Microsoft is bringing out some colorful accessories to the Xbox360. Costing $49.99, Pink and Light Blue wireless controllers will be out for sale in October.
Halo 3 themed Xbox360s
Microsoft’s press conference ended with a deep silence with no excitement on the faces of the addressees. Although, everyone in the hall was expecting a new (low-end) Xbox360 to be announced but Peter Moore wrapped up his speech revealing green colored Xbox360s themed on Halo 3 game with no new specifications.
Euro Xbox360 Elite price
Microsoft has said that the European price relationship between Xbox360 Elite and Premium system will be similar to the relationship between the two in North US. However, MS didn’t specified an exact price tag, but asked to guess it.
