The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is always a good time and this year looks like it will be pretty intense. I'll be headed out to the big show, traveling along with Chunx and SeanManly from SimHQ Motorsports, to scour the floor for items of interest to our sim community.
Although most of the floor will be dedicated to "arcade" games and mobile entertainment items, there are more than a few items I'm looking forward to learning more about:
Bohemia Interactive will have a booth and I'll be stopping by to get some more info on Arma III.
We've already got a date with the folks from 505 Games to talk more about TAKEDOWN: Red Sabre
EA has already announced that Battlefield 4 will be available on the Xbox One - hoping to get some more info about this title and the series.
The two new consoles, Xbox One and PS4 will be big attention hogs at the show, of course, showing off their cutting edge hardware and exclusive titles. I hope to get some hands on both consoles, although I expect there will be quite a line at those particular booths!
E3 has more than games, of course.
Oculus VR will be showing us their Oculus Rift virtual reality headset that just might take immersion to the next level.
We'll also be talking with Playseat who makes gaming chairs. The bulk of their product line is for the racing genre, but I'm still looking forward to checking it out.
Starting June 11, watch for live reports here on the forums and on Twitter by following us on @SimHQ.
There are currently 208 exhibitors in all planning to have booths at the show - who knows who else we'll run into?
Ya Skate... that's all cool and all, if it works... but IMO there trying to be to damn technical, and relying on outside conditions, I just want great games... all in one disk or download, don't need all that cloud BS. again IMO.
Glad to see mention of SW:BF, although it doesn't look like it will be a launch title. That may actually be a good thing, no way I'm getting this thing at launch, and I'd hate to miss out on MP.
Any word yet on if the new Xbox will support pc racing wheels? If I can use my G27, that would make a big difference.
Glad to see mention of SW:BF, although it doesn't look like it will be a launch title. That may actually be a good thing, no way I'm getting this thing at launch, and I'd hate to miss out on MP.
Any word yet on if the new Xbox will support pc racing wheels? If I can use my G27, that would make a big difference.
Only thing so far relating is Dan Greenawalt Confirmed that Thrustmaster was building the wheel for Xbox One/FM5. and said it was powerful, yada yada.
And it is on the E3 Floor in a Early form, so Hopefully Einstein can get some info on that.
Yeah a little casual and scripted. Doesnt reflect what real people will be shouting in an open world game. :P Anyhow for people that missed the announcement video from ubisoft press confrerence:
Was it me or did the PS4 Have Lockup and Crashing problems in almost every live demonstration today?
$99 Cheaper... hmmm.. how did they manage that? cheap parts?
How about not coming with a stupid camera sensor that must be connected?
SkateZilla watching the PS4 announcement:
PS4 summary
- No online required. Play your single player disks totally offline. - Rent, resell or lend disks to friends, no online required. - Better hardware specs
Yep...Sony really is going to "do the right thing" as they stated earlier. Even if the PS4 was $599...I would still buy it instead of the Xbox, I support their policy.
They released a video how to share games on the PS4
Was it me or did the PS4 Have Lockup and Crashing problems in almost every live demonstration today?
$99 Cheaper... hmmm.. how did they manage that? cheap parts?
How about not coming with a stupid camera sensor that must be connected?
SkateZilla watching the PS4 announcement:
PS4 summary
- No online required. Play your single player disks totally offline. - Rent, resell or lend disks to friends, no online required. - Better hardware specs
$399 vs $499 for the XB1.
Xbox One - go home, it's over..
I had the angry face until the Units started Locking up and Crashing during the publisher press conferences.
Like i said MS isnt stupid, betcha before November they find a way to remove the kinect sensor and sell it for $349, and remove DRM.
Publishers arent gonna enforce DRM on one console and not the other.
Like i said MS isnt stupid, betcha before November they find a way to remove the kinect sensor and sell it for $349, and remove DRM.
Publishers arent gonna enforce DRM on one console and not the other.
But you have been saying for the last month that the PS4 would have similar DRM and used game policies as the Xbox. In fact, I think you said it had to.
Well Kudos to Sony for making the move and actually listening to what gamers want. For many, it doesn't matter if Microsoft matches every point of Sony's console...it's too little too late and they will remember how MS tried to shake down their wallets. I will most definitely pick up a PS4.
Keep in mind I'm someone that switched over from the PS1 to the Xbox and I currently have 3 Xbox 360's in my house.
Well Kudos to Sony for making the move and actually listening to what gamers want. For many, it doesn't matter if Microsoft matches every point of Sony's console...it's too little too late and they will remember how MS tried to shake down their wallets. I will most definitely pick up a PS4.
Keep in mind I'm someone that switched over from the PS1 to the Xbox and I currently have 3 Xbox 360's in my house.
Im not gonna bail over DRM and Kinect... since my internet is always on, and even if it goes off, I'll just tether my phones wifi to the xbox.
For people that dont have internet always on and stuff, then yeah, I'd be like *F U MS!
That's what the publishers have said, $50, Sony saw the outcry when MS Announced it and removed it.
Doubtful. SONY simply isn't nimble enough to turn around a major business policy like that. Chances are they planned it this way from day one.
MS is having to do a MAJOR overhaul to XBL in order to support new features, including the Online requirement. SONY probably didn’t want to deal with all that BS. Won’t surprise me if they leave this in the publishers hands, which has the potential to be even worse:
In theory, a sim city 4 type scenario (ie, not enough server bandwidth for all the pre-order holders to play on day 1) wouldn’t happen with the 360, as XBL will (allegedly) be shouldering the server load. If pubs are left to their own devices (I’m looking at you, EA) then you’re at their mercy for used game pricing and such as well. We shall see if MS makes good here.
Also, let’s not forget, Sony also seemed like the champion of the nerd world when it promised backwards compatibility, and the ability to install Linux as major PS3 Features. Then, half way through the product cycle they decided to pull both.
Having said all that, I plan to pre-order both via amazon. They don’t charge till shipping, so you can cancel without being charged. This gives one a chance to voice their concerns to Sony/MS. I can cancel my XBO order for example, and put “do not agree with always-online policy” as the reason why I choose to cancel my order.
Enough people do this, you can bet MS will get the message
I'd like to point out some random things from interviews.
Sony's Press Conference said no restrictions on games, etc.
Interview with CEO said the DRM is there if the Publishers want to use it.
Microsoft said it will be there for Publishers if they want to use it.
If none of the publishers want to use it, then the 24/hour DRM refresh is no longer important.
hopefully MS Changes this DRM Time frame to something like 30 days, or just remove the Online DRM Requirement. Let users do whatever with the game.
I think it comes down to Publishers, if they dont Enforce the DRM, then it's most likely not gonna be a problem, no DRM, no Need to check every 24 hours.
MS isnt forcing the publishers to use it, and now, with the outcry from consumers, I doubt the Publishers will,
Got to see the PS4 and Xbox One. Very nice. The Motorsports guys will have some more info on Forza 5 and GT6 - but I thought they sure were purty.
Talked with Brice from Hauppauge re: their HD recorders. They're marketed for recording console video, but can record HD video from PCs as well! Very cool.
Also got to talk with Christian Allen from 505 Games about Takedown: Sabre. We grilled them about the "tactical" aspects of their shooter. I'll have more later tonight.
If Forza doesn't bring in pit stops, tire degradation (to the point of blow out) and fuel consumption, I don't want to hear about it. Same for GT. If neither system lets me use my G27, then it doesn't need to go any further than that to begin with.
I'd like to point out some random things from interviews.
Sony's Press Conference said no restrictions on games, etc. Interview with CEO said the DRM is there if the Publishers want to use it.
You do know that this is the same as PS3 right?
When I start GranTurismo5 it checks in with PSN to see if I was sent any cars as gifts, it sees if I was on already today and if not it gives me a random money and paint color gift, if PSN is offline or my network is down it tells me that to get a better experience login to PSN, if they wanted to it could check DRM/
So Sony's CEO basically said PS4 is just like PS3 as far as DRM, if the game implementer wants to use something they can... Microsoft was the one that was talking up their new always-on requirements as no big deal and their 24hour offline limit for singleplayer games and is now backing up when they see that Sony was not as dumb, but Sony's system as described by the CEO is no change from the current PS3 one, where it is up to the game publisher to do something more.
Seems like you're thinking it is some sort of backslide where to me it doesn't seem any different than what was already said and what PS3 has, unlike Microsoft's new DRM requirements.
GREAT discussion with MadCatz with regards to controllers for flight sims. I'm hoping we'll see some exciting official press releases in the near future. Also got to talk with PlaySeat about their Flight Sim seat.
Connectivity here is completely abysmal. I don't even know if this post will go through. Tweets are hard to make real time, let alone upload pics and videos. We're wrapping up in the hospitality lounge and will be headed back to the hotel to give a more detailed dump.
We have appointments for Occulus VR and Zeiss Cinemizer tomorrow as well as Bohemia. I already got a sneak peek at the new Take On product, Take On Mars: clearly a labor of love with amazing visuals, but I'm not sure how much of a "sim" it's going to be. I'll find out more tomorrow.
looking for clarification... SimHQ guys there at E3...
BF3 on the Xbox 360 is 720p, (while CoD: BO2 is 1080p which I was not aware of, intresting)...
My Q. BF4 on Xbox 360 will be 720p or 1080p? What about on Xbox One/PS4? 1080p... all games coming to next gen at 1080p?
Reason I ask, still deciding but if i forgo the Xbox One and PS4 all together, how will BF4 play on 360.
OT: I've been thinking... no exclusive for either the ONE or PS4, really bites at me... sure I'd like to try Titan Fall or something... but the exclusive I wanted most for Xbox One , FM5... may (or may not) screw me and my $800 Fanatec wheel/pedal system... don't want it if I have to use a gamepad or buy a new wheel.... as for GT what 6? it's coming out on PS3... so really... why do i need next gen console... as of right now I don't see it... save me 900 bucks.
just thinking outloud here, still deciding on anything and everything... Thank god for PC, Windows 7, SB Pro PE and DCS... thats all I need. OK, maybe some Combat Mission... OK, some AirLand Battle... OK... maybe some CoD2 and/or Rome 2... but thats all I need... OK, maybe back into iRacing again... but thats it! Thats all I need.
I don't need anything except this. [picks up an ashtray] And that's it and that's the only thing I need, is this. I don't need this or this. Just this ashtray. And this paddle game, the ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need. And this remote control. The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need. And these matches. The ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control and the paddle ball. And this lamp.....
lol
Not only a little of 'the jerk' from Mags but some damn fine questions as well
I was playing close to 6 hours a day... but with just me and my brother it got old when teams accused us of cheating cuz we were on Voice comms communicating, I think we played with Genbrien a few times.
Can't wait for the impressions from the Oculus Rift.(056xxx)
If it's still possible: could someone ask if 21:9 or 21:10 would be technically possible? About 25% would be for peripheral 2D vision, but would it be possible?
Oculus Rift is amazing...for a prototype. We got to test it with Eve VR demo, a mini space combat game and the immersion was everything it was hyped to be. More to follow.
Day 2 article running a little late. Highlights are that the two VR systems (Oculus and Cinemizer) both rock the house, but one's still in development and the other costs $1,000. I have been introduced to Stinkyboard and am a big fan already. I don't see it as being very convenient for flight or racing Sims, but tactical shooters will see a definite advantage.
None of the Sony or MS reps I talked to could confirm or deny organic screencap features in the next-gen consoles. A GT rep thought there's a screencap capability in their product, but admits it's a bit cumbersome to use.
Also, I've got a screenshot of the Arma 3 beta that lists the vehicles they brought to E3. I've asked if we can get a detailed change log from Alpha to Beta.
Oculus Rift is amazing...for a prototype. We got to test it with Eve VR demo, a mini space combat game and the immersion was everything it was hyped to be. More to follow.
Has anybody asked them about being able to look down at your controllers?
Frankly, I'm a little bummed that Take On Mars is the next titles in that series. As a space nerd, I'll probably pick it up for funnsies, but I (and I suspect many in the SHQ community) would really have liked to have seen something like Take On Attack helicopters.
The head gear seems cool, and for me the Cinimizer seems like the way to go as it allows use of at least a keyboard, if not a sim pit setup. With the rise of 3D clickable pits though, I suspect one could get by with the Occulus in a system heavy sim like DCS.
The price tag isn't such a big issue IMHO. With the first gen of this hardware, you're looking at people who could afford larger multi-screen systems, but don't have the room.
Has anybody asked them about being able to look down at your controllers?
Yes, we did. They emphasized that the current product was a demo and that they had "ideas" but wouldn't commit to anything more than that. Pretty sure the rep got our message though.
I loved the ability to look around outside the glasses and the lightweight, nimble overall feel but $1,000 is a show-stopper for me, especially for a 30° FOV. Unless OLED technology radically changes or the Cinemizer switches to another displays type, the price point isn't going to shift by a lot.
Has anybody asked them about being able to look down at your controllers?
Yes, we did. They emphasized that the current product was a demo and that they had "ideas" but wouldn't commit to anything more than that. Pretty sure the rep got our message though.
Frankly, I'm a little bummed that Take On Mars is the next titles in that series. As a space nerd, I'll probably pick it up for funnsies, but I (and I suspect many in the SHQ community) would really have liked to have seen something like Take On Attack helicopters.
The head gear seems cool, and for me the Cinimizer seems like the way to go as it allows use of at least a keyboard, if not a sim pit setup. With the rise of 3D clickable pits though, I suspect one could get by with the Occulus in a system heavy sim like DCS.
The price tag isn't such a big issue IMHO. With the first gen of this hardware, you're looking at people who could afford larger multi-screen systems, but don't have the room.
The price and FOV is going to be big problem for them if the OR comes out at 399.00
Enjoying reading the coverage, thanks for going guys! Lots of cool stuff, but that Stinkyfeet controller really has me thinking. A decent price point and very useful. That's one to be on the lookout for.