Nintendo have registered a trademark in Japan for the Wii Fit Plus, expected to be the follow-up to the company’s highly-successful Wii Fit game. While no specific details regarding Wii Fit Plus are known, the trademark application did include a logo design which suggests Nintendo are actively working on the project rather than just covering their legal bases.
Microsoft’s Xbox 360 webcam could be announced as early as at E3 next month, according to the latest sources talking to the WSJ, using 3D camera technology believed to have been acquired when the company bought start-up 3DV Systems. 3DV developed the ZCam, a 60fps 3D-capable camera that is reportedly low-cost, and which can track a gamers movements and gestures.
Hot on the heels of a screen-sliding PSP refresh, comes word that Sony are planning a Wiimote-style motion-sensing controller for the PS3. Tipped for announcement at E3 next month, the controller is expected to use LEDs and a webcam to track movement, with reportedly greater accuracy than Nintendo’s version.
While there’s unsurprisingly no word from Sony themselves regarding the new controller, the rumor-mill maintains that the company is contacting “key third-party publishers” and pushing for support in their upcoming titles. That would give the company the catalog of compatible games needed to properly launch the new peripheral.
Another next-gen PSP rumor, and this time a new mockup image. Sony are still remaining quiet on talk of a replacement to their gaming handheld, but 1UP has been talking to “sources directly involved with the new system” who lend further weight to the talk that UMD is to be replaced with flash storage, in this case 8GB or 16GB.
I admit that Konami has a lot of catching up to do in the US market when it comes to rhythm games. Yes, they helped pioneer the genre in Japan, however, with games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band on the scene, Rock Revolution has an uphill battle. Konami had a special press conference to debut their new game, and they made a horrible presentation. Hit the jump for a video clip from their E3 show.
I remember as a teenage gamer having dreams of attending E3. Honestly for a gamer, it really didn’t get much bigger than that single event. Now I’m finally in a position to attend the show, and it’s only a shadow of its former self. It has been announced that only a whopping 38 companies will be showing off their wares this year.
To give you an idea, only two years ago at E3 2006 there were over 400 companies showing off the latest and greatest in the world of gaming. So what happened? Well the ESA decided that they no longer needed a “mega-show” and decided to “refocus”. At the rate things are going, the show will be completely dead in another year or so.
What would E3 be without some Rock Band coverage? The guys over at Giz got a chance to sit down and play with the new drum kit for the upcoming title.
Sony has finished up their press conference, which pretty much does it for the big announcements coming from the big 3 console makers. I must say there’s definitely a tie as far as product announcements go.
I must clarify a bit, the best hardware announcement was probably the WiiZapper from Nintendo. However, Microsoft and Sony are going to have to duke it out for the most boring announcement yet. Microsoft managed to put the crowd to sleep when they announced their special Halo 3 box. But Sony may have taken the cake with their announcement of a newer, slimmer PSP.
Sony has finally gotten their time to shine at E3, and they’re announcing a PS3 exclusive game. This is good, because the console is severely lacking in good exclusive titles.
They have just announced that Metal Gear Solid 4 will be the final game in the series, and will be one of the consoles exclusive titles. Check out the full press release after the jump.
What’s this? More announcements from Nintendo? Surely not! No, I assure you, it’s true. Nintendo has apparently pulled out all the stops at this year’s E3. Their latest product is a fitness accessory for the Wii. I’m beginning to wonder if the DS is going to get any lovin this year.
SlashGear Japan
