Well, as much as I’d like to actually be a game journalist and actually attend E3, I can only comment on what the big news sites are reporting on.  I will say, though, that out of all the E3s I’ve followed (for years now) this one has me the most excited I’ve been about E3 in years.  I’ll breakdown each showing from the big three, hopefully concisely and effectively, and you’re welcome to provide comment.  Lets go:

Microsoft

Well, I think we can all agree that Microsoft pretty much MEGATON-ed us with their show.  Crackdown 2, Left 4 Dead 2, and of course Kojima’s surprise appearance to announce Metal Gear Solid: Rising was pretty epic. It’s strange, though, one or two of the things we were supposed to be excited about didn’t really do much for me.  This Project Natal business is for the birds.  This will be nothing more than a tech demo for the next Xbox console.  Good luck getting big budget support for a peripheral.  Also, I don’t see myself going to my 360 for Facebook and Twitter.  It’ll get used as much as my Wii’s web browser.  There are those that’ll say, “hey!  I like my Wii’s web browser!”  I like mine too, but I’d be telling you a lie if I said I’ve used it more than twice.

Nintendo

Wow.  Maybe it’s just because I went to lunch between the Wii Fit Plus announcement and the Mario Galaxy 2 reveal, but this was a blockbuster of a presser.  There are a nice handful of games that I’m really, really excited for.  Team Ninja’s Metroid: Other M?!?!  I can’t wait.  Mario Galaxy 2?!?!  I’ll take what seems like a “Master Quest” for Mario Galaxy any day of the week.  New Super Mario Bros. Wii?  Um..Nintendo, I loved New SMB on the DS…but I don’t was Super Mario Four Swords.  Please let this have a solid single player experience.  If it does…then, it’s a Day 1 purchase for me.  If not…tsk tsk…I’ll refuse to acknowledge it as the “next generation” of Mario.  Also, Wii Fit Plus added exactly what I wanted from Wii Fit…the ability to set a timed workout “playlist” and online progress sharing.  SOLD.  Oh yeah, Layton 2 for the DS will make my wife happy when she’s not playing The Sims 3 (!).

Sony

It’s official, everyone.  Sony hates gamers.  They still feel like gamers have super deep pockets and want to grow old waiting for good games.  God of War 3 and Uncharted 2 look amazing.  I’ll keep Gran Turismo PSP in mind, even though I gave up on it 4 years ago when they announced AT THE SAME TIME THE PSP WAS ANNOUNCED.  PSP Go?  Fail.  Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker…Kojima, I pray to all things holy, please do not make this the recruitathon mess thatn MGS:Portable Ops was.  You give me a real linear MGS game this time on PSP and I’ll send you a Christmas card.  No lie.  Final Fantasy XIV looks interesting enough…but I’m sure it’ll be fee based, so no thanks.  Oh yeah, Sony…your waggle controller is stupid.  Please stop.  It’s not necessary.  You need people on the couch playing your games, not jumping around their living rooms.  That’s Nintendo’s job.

Well, that’s it.  That’s my extremely biased account of the big three press conferences.  I know there’s other developer specific conferences happening, but most of them I don’t care about unless something else new comes out of them.

Happy New Year:

WII-KLY UPDATE: ONE WIIWARE GAME AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL
Jan. 5, 2009

A new year means even more new games at the Wii™ Shop Channel, starting with a pair of imaginative titles to kick off 2009 in style. Anyone who loves Kirby™ can keep the confetti flying to celebrate the release of the classic Kirby’s Dream Land™ 3 for the Virtual Console™. And if you’re already desperate for a warm mid-winter getaway, check out Sandy Beach, a sand castle game on WiiWare™ that’s loaded with sunny fun.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

WiiWare

Sandy Beach (Konami, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 500 Wii Points): Enjoy a fun day at Sandy Beach as you build elaborate sand castles. You can work peacefully on your sand castle or enter into a battle with invading crabs in Crab Battle mode. Players will strategically build their sand castle and use cannons to defend it against an army of destructive crabs. After successfully defending your sand castle, discover beach treasures and additional cannons with your metal detector to customize your castle even more.

Virtual Console

Kirby’s Dream Land 3 (Super NES™, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Kirby, Dream Land’s resident hero (and everyone’s favorite puffball), must once again save the day when the mischievous King Dedede starts causing trouble. Kirby must travel through an assortment of levels, battling an exotic array of enemies (both new and familiar) determined to stop him from completing his mission. Always armed with his trusty ability to swallow enemies and gain special attacks, Kirby can also unite with some of his animal friends and make use of their particular talents. Featuring detailed graphics, challenging boss battles and the distinct charm of a Kirby game, it’s no wonder this title is considered a classic.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Platform Awards
Best Xbox Live Arcade Game: Geometry Wars 2
Best Virtual Console/WiiWare Game: World of Goo
Best PSN Game: Super Street Fighter 2 HD Remix
Best Wii Game: Boom Blox
Best PS2 Game: Yakuza 2
Best 360 Game: Gears Of War 2
Best PS3 Game: Metal Gear Solid 4
Best PSP Game: Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core
Best DS Game: Space Invaders Extreme

The Other Awards
Biggest Suprise: Final Fantasy XIII on the Xbox 360
Biggest Disappointment: Spore
Best Graphics: Metal Gear Solid 4
Best Sports Game: NHL 09
Best Racing Game: Burnout Paradise
Best Action/Adventure: Metal Gear Solid 4
Best Shooter: Gears of War 2
Best Fighting: Super Street Fighter II HD Remix
Best Platformer: Little Big Planet
Best Puzzle Game: Professor Layton
Best Music Game: Rock Band 2
Best Role Playing Game: Fable II
Best Game I bought and haven’t even touched yet: This years Castlevania DS
Shouts outs: Motorstorm 2, Madden 09, NBA 2k9, God of War (PSP)

and of course the

GAME OF THE YEAR: BURNOUT PARADISE

Really?

WII-KLY UPDATE: TWO WIIWARE GAMES AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

Dec. 29, 2008 – Champagne? Check. Confetti? Got it. But you’re not fully prepared for New Year’s revelry unless your Nintendo game library is stocked with games to please everyone under the sun. As always, the Wii™ Shop Channel is open 24 hours a day for your downloading pleasure. The final slate of new game offerings for 2008 includes a couple of wild multiplayer titles on WiiWare™, plus an enthralling sci-fi title for the Virtual Console™. Load up and enjoy!

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

WiiWare

Maboshi’s Arcade™ (Nintendo, 1-3 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Featuring three distinct modes and simultaneous play across three game windows, the constantly changing environment of Maboshi’s Arcade creates an atmosphere unlike any other. Each of the modes is based on one of three familiar shapes (circle, stick and square) and offers the same goal: score a million points. Use the intuitive controls to bash enemies in Circle mode, weave your way through Stick mode or burn a path around obstacles in Square mode-all while dealing with power-up items and keeping watch on which effects the other game windows may have on your own. Also featuring Mii™ characters, action replays that you can send to your Wii™ Friends via WiiConnect24™, and the ability to download a version to a Nintendo DS™, you may never want to leave this arcade.

Cue Sports – Pool Revolution (Hudson Entertainment, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Grab your Wii Remote™ controller and take a shot at this virtual billiard game. Enjoy match-ups, playing classic favorites such as 9 Ball, 8 Ball, Rotation and Snooker, as well as walk-through trick shots in Puzzle mode. Connect to Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection (Nintendo WFC) to go head-to-head with your friends, or even hustle opponents across the world in Nintendo WFC match-ups. This game offers two types of controls, allowing you to virtually strike the cue ball with your Wii Remote controller or use the buttons to adjust the strength of your shot and then strike. Hone your skills in Practice mode, learning all the cool techniques you need to be a true hustler. Use the edit feature to create your own challenge and nail the trick shot you’ve always dreamed of sinking. Pull off an amazing shot and show everyone who’s the biggest shark in the pool.

Virtual Console

Zoda’s Revenge™: StarTropics II™ (NES™, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 500 Wii Points): Take on the role of Mike Jones, intrepid hero of the StarTropics universe, and once again battle the evil alien Zoda to control the fate of the Argonian people. In this journey, the island hopping of Mike’s original adventure gives way to traveling through time and visiting locations around the world. And you never know what famous historical figures may appear along the way, giving Mike helpful advice or useful items. Luckily, Mike also has a wider range of weapons and improved play control on his side, so he may yet stand a chance against Zoda. Can you help Mike stand the test of time and save the world again?

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Yes you read correctly. The top five has diverted from its techne filled mentality to grasp the psyche of our entertained senses. Last week PDK introduced our sense of sound and what our ears seem to never have trouble hearing at any time. This week I, nimolta, begin our top five novelties of shape and form as perceived by our eyes. Of course since our blog is composed of men, I chose to select the best shape that any real man would never have trouble seeing, women! So I present our TOP FIVE ALL-TIME HOTTIES for this week’s CafeTimeRun‘s TopFive.

nimolta’s top five:

1. Megan Fox
   

   #1

2. Adriana Lima
   

   #2

3. Jessica Alba
   

   #3

4. Sarah Shahi
   

   #4

5. Penelope Cruz
   

   #5

6. Honorable Mention – Emanuela de Paula
   

   Honorable Mention

   pdk27’s Top Five:

1.  Charlize Theron

#1

2. Kate Beckinsale

#2

3.  Angelina Jolie

#3

4. Salma Hayek

#4

5. Megan Fox

#5

*Insanemouse could not be reached for comment.

Ugh….

WII-KLY UPDATE: TWO WIIWARE GAMES AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL
Dec. 15, 2008

Time may be getting tight for holiday shoppers, but the selection and excitement at the Wii™ Shop Channel just keeps on growing. There’s no simpler way to access a brilliant variety of new and classic games, and they’re all available for download directly to your Wii console-no ribbons or wrapping paper required. This week’s additions bring a fresh mix of challenges for new and experienced players to enjoy: Slay a dragon in the season finale of Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People, solve a multiplayer puzzle or race the clock on an arcade-style motorbike course.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

WiiWare™

Strong Bad Episode 5: 8-Bit Is Enough (Telltale Games, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older-Mild Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,000 Wii Points): Trogdor, the beefy-armed dragon of legend, has shaken free from his video game and is running through the countryside, “burninating” everything in sight. With a dragon on the loose and 8-bit classics leaking into the real world, it’s all fun and games until the proud land of Strong Badia falls to Trogdor’s fiery wrath. Now Strong Bad must take back the night by sending this scorching menace back into his arcade cabinet once and for all. Just one problem: Does anybody know how to kill a dragon?

Big Kahuna Party (Reflexive Entertainment Inc., 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 700 Wii Points): Embark on a tropical adventure with the explosively charged Big Kahuna Party. Looking to make the ultimate party game, we started with a concept that’s accessible to the whole family-the popular match-three game. On top of that, we crafted a unique multiplayer experience in which you can choose to work together to complete the challenging levels before the timer runs out, or go head-to-head and compete in a frenzy of fun. To top it off, we added 99 uniquely free-flowing levels, the challenging Tiki Pole, 20 hidden tropical sea creatures to unlock, the strategic Fish Net and more. The result is a family party game like no other, easy to pick up but impossible to put down. Play alone or with friends, and unleash the Tiki spirit within.

Virtual Console™

Enduro Racer™ (SEGA Master System, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Based on the popular SEGA arcade game and redesigned for the SEGA Master System, Enduro Racer takes you on an intense set of adrenaline-designed courses containing diverse and rough terrain that will test your skills and reaction time. Ride as fast as you can to pass as many cars and bikes as possible while also avoiding obstacles and pitfalls such as debris on the road. Take jumps off ramps and try to keep your speed up, but make sure to keep an eye on your bike so it doesn’t blow up in your face. Are you ready for the challenge?

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

So this week I’ve been playing a number of games.  Also included this week is something I rarely do, I finished a game.  So here are some impressions of what I’ve been playing this week.

1. Fable II – Lets start right off with the game I finished.  I finally decided to sit down and finish this game.  Took me a few hours but I managed to pull it off.  Overall I had a great time with this game.  I played as a good guy to the point that I even got an achievement for being a pure good guy.  I’m considering playing through it again as a evil character to see how the game is different.  Highly recommended.

2. Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts – As most of you probably know, Amazon has been having crazy deals since Black Friday on various videogames.  When I saw the oppertuniy to pick this up for $20, I jumped on it.  I have a four year old son and this has become our new sit down and play together game, meaning he tells me where to go and I go there.  Just getting started in it (got five Jiggies so far) but I’m enjoying myself.  Kinda throws me back to the N64 days.

3. Gears of War 2 – Then when my son isn’t around, this is what I’m trying to finish next.  I’m not that far in the game, but I’m definitely enjoying it more than the first one.  Cliff B’s mantra of bigger & badder is certainly holding up here.

So we are starting a new section here at CafeTimeRun called top fives. Partially inspired from the movie High Fidelity were the main characters would like top five songs/albums for various scenarios. In honor of that we are starting off with the top five songs off all time as seen by me, insanemouse, and nimolta. Feel free to add your top fives in the comments area. So here we go.

pdk27 Top Five Songs

1. Foo Fighters – Everlong
2. Pearl Jam – Yellow Ledbetter
3. U2 – One
4. Chuck Berry – Jonny B. Goode
5. 2Pac – California Love

nimolta’s Top Five Songs

Before you read my top five,  I would just like to say that this was a hard top five.  If this was a specific genre than it would have made things easier but if I had to choose only 5 songs to have on a deserted island than I would chooose the following in no particular order:

1. Where I End and You Begin – Radiohead
2. Sweet Child ‘O’ Mine – Guns ‘n’ Roses
3. Banquet – Bloc Party
4. N.Y State of Mind – Nas
5. Jimmy Eat World – 21

insanemouse’s Top Five Songs

I’ll echo nimolta’s sentiment that choosing 5 overall favorite songs is ridiculously tough.  One thing about not limiting yourself to a certain genre, you almost feel compelled to find songs outside of your favorite genre that your fave 5 might actually exist in.  With that said, even though I’ve been considered the “rap guy” by many, I do have music tastes outside of the genre as you’ll see below, again in no particular order:

1. Nas is Like – Nas
2. You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
3. Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai
4. ’93 Til Infinity – Souls of Mischeif
5. Crooklyn Dodgers – Brooklyn’s Finest (the one with Jeru the Damaja and Chubb Rock)

Well, there you have it.  Just a little peek into what we enjoy besides video games.  I’m sure there’ll be more of these lists.  Feel free to comment with your own top 5 songs…it’d be interesting to see what people like.

Once again Nintendo is reaching out past the world of gaming with its latest DS release Personal Trainer: Cooking.  Since the game is only $20 I decided to give it a spin.  Upon receiving it I went through the 245 recipes and picked out one I thought might be easy.  I went with Roasted Chicken.  Upon selecting the recipe the program created a shopping list for me of all the ingredients I would need.  So then my DS and me were off to the grocery store to buy ingredients I’ve never bought before like sage and watercress.  Once I got home, it was cooking time.  The recipies are well laid out and the program picks the perfect times to give you more information when it might seem confusing.  For example in the recipie I was making it gave more detail on the proper way to crush garlic.  Half an hour later I was enjoying the chicken i’ve got shown below.  It tasted much better than I was expecting.

I’ll keep you up to date on other recipies that I will be trying.  I did also buy all the necessary ingrediants to make salsa so that will probably be the next one.  So if your new to cooking I highly recommend this program.  It will have you making things you never thought you would.

WII-KLY UPDATE: TWO WIIWARE GAMES AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL
Dec. 8, 2008

Neither sleet nor snow nor ice-cold winter winds shall keep Wii™ Shop Channel users from enjoying the best new and classic games. In fact, this week’s offerings include a hot new strategy-based puzzle game that promises to keep everyone in the household enthused, no matter how frightful the weather outside may be. Harrowing puzzles, hockey pucks and a world-famous hedgehog are all featured in the latest downloadable lineup, providing red-hot gaming thrills to counter the imminent December chills.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

WiiWare™

Bruiser and Scratch (Steel Penny Games, Inc., 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Bruiser and Scratch are stranded in a strange world with a dark secret. Their only hope in finding a path home is to unravel the mystery of this place, one oversized puzzle at a time. Along the way, they make new friends and meet up with old adversaries, each of whom plays a role in their journey. Bruiser and Scratch offers a number of tutorial levels to bring the player up to speed gradually. The story unfolds over 48 puzzles and six landscapes. And for players who can’t get enough, Challenge mode offers 75 additional puzzles that range from child’s play to mind-bogglingly difficult.

Hockey Allstar Shootout (Big Blue Bubble Inc., 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Use the Wii Remote™ controller as a stick and take the shot as you compete in three exciting Hockey Skills Challenges. In Head 2 Head, it’s just you versus the best goalies in the world in a five-puck shootout. Race against the clock to post the most goals in the fastest time. The three difficulty levels will place you against three increasingly talented goalies, each donning the jersey of their home country. In two-player mode, each player will take a turn as shooter and as goalie, and the player who scores the most goals in five shots is the winner. In Sharp Shooter, you post a high score in one of three difficulty levels by breaking as many targets as you can. Each time a shot fails to break a target, an X will appear in the upper left corner. Three misses and the game is over. Power Shot has you take your best shot and watch the Shot-Speed Clock light up. You have three attempts to blast the fastest shot you can, and only the best speeds will grace the high score list.

Virtual Console™

Sonic The Hedgehog™ 2 (SEGA MASTER SYSTEM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Play the popular Sonic The Hedgehog sequel, made specifically for the SEGA MASTER SYSTEM. Sonic returns home to his island just in time to see Dr. Eggman (a.k.a. Dr. Robotnik) run off with Tails. In fact, Dr. Eggman has kidnapped all of Sonic’s animal friends and placed them in robotic mind-controlling suits. He demands the six Chaos Emeralds, hidden on the island, in exchange for their safe return. Explore underground mine shafts, dash through underwater tunnels and hang glide through the clouds in Sonic’s search for the Chaos Emeralds. Once Sonic’s found them all, he must face off with the evil Dr. Eggman and thwart his plan for global domination.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.