E3Expo
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Aiken Labs brings 9-axis modular motion sensing to Android, we go hands-on (video)
We already had a chance to try out Immersive Motion from Aiken Labs at CES, but now the nine-axis modular sensing system is making its way to Android and other mobile platforms, including iOS and Windows Phone. The more compact battery-powered server brings motion-controlled gaming to mobile environments, capturing position data from matchbox-size modular sensors that you can tape to a wooden sword or Viking helmet for live-action outdoor role-playing, or on you paws and dome during a virtual jam session with friends, for example. The mobile kit includes a pair of wireless sensors with a 50-foot range that you can attach to literally any accessory or appendage, and is expected to sell for about $300 when it ships later this year. You'll also be able to connect up to two smaller wired sensors to each wireless sensor, for about $50 a pop. The kit's price tag makes it cost-prohibitive for all but the most hardcore gamers and devs (there's an SDK available as well), but Aiken hopes to make its flagship product more affordable if its able to sell the kits in high volume. The tool has applications in other industries as well, including research and Hollywood, where it could be used as a (relatively) low-cost outdoor motion-capture suit. The early version we saw at E3 today is definitely not ready to head to production, but we're still months away from an actual release, giving Aiken some time to improve accuracy, and perhaps find a way to reduce that price. Jump past the break to see how it works.%Gallery-125868% Tim Stevens contributed to this report.
THQ uDraw GameTablet goes HD, we go hands-on (video)
Nintendo's Wii U controller is a gaming display, video conference device, and yes, a stylus-toting tablet, but no such tool has been announced for those other consoles, so PS3 and Xbox 360 owners who want to get their sketch on will have to turn to THQ's new uDraw GameTablet instead. Tablets for both gaming systems were announced last month, and today we had a chance to paint on the big (HD) screen at E3. Though the drawing surface feels just as roomy as the Wii version, the tablets are noticeably smaller than last year's counterpart, with the obvious absence of a Wiimote holder taking credit for the device's reduced footprint. That Wiimote also made it difficult for lefties to tackle the tablet, but no such issues exist on the PS3 and Xbox versions. Other major design changes include shifting stylus storage from the rear to just above the resistive capacitive touch surface, and trimming some girth off the instrument itself. Both tablets will be coming in November for less than $100, though specific pricing has yet to be announced. For now, you're limited to uDraw Studio and Pictionary on the game title front, which appear noticeably sharper in HD, though otherwise similar to the versions we used with the Wii. THQ has promised more games for future release, including Disney Animator, though reps weren't able to confirm any other titles or dates. We had a chance to draw in both games, which respond to both the stylus and hardware buttons for brush selection and other functions, such as undo and navigation. A rep pointed out that the new versions are also more sensitive to stylus pressure, adjusting brush thickness based on how hard you press, for example, but we didn't find that to be the case. After you've spent a few minutes concocting your next digital masterpiece, you can fire off your work of art via email, instead of just sending it to an SD card like on the Wii version. Overall, there's nothing groundbreaking here, but if you've been looking to balance out your Halo and Resistance by sketching honeybees and rainbows (or making your console a bit more kid-friendly), then uDraw may be worth the investment. %Gallery-125867% Tim Stevens contributed to this report.
Minecraft Pocket Edition on Xperia Play hands-on (video)
Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play is clearly all about gaming, so we weren't surprised to see a fair amount of E3 footage dedicated to the PlayStation Phone. Minecraft was among the 20 odd games on display at the booth, and the version we had a chance to play with happens to look remarkably similar to that demo we saw pop up a couple weeks ago. The game will be exclusive to the Play when it hits online stores in Q3, but there's no word on pricing just let -- though here's to hoping it'll be free. In the demo we played, you select your blocks on the touchscreen -- or you can just cycle through them with the circle and square buttons. You won't find Creepers, crafting, or night mode in this version, but we're still a few months away from the launch, so there's a chance we'll see those features when it's fully baked. You'll need to wait a bit longer before playing on your own device, but check out our hands-on video after the break for a taste of Mojang's pocket-sized Minecraft.%Gallery-125689% Tim Stevens contributed to this report.
New PS3 models outed by FCC just days ahead of E3
With the big E3 Expo set to kick off in just four days, we must admit to being more than a little intrigued at finding a new PS3 model bumble its way out of the FCC test labs. PlayStation 3 models CECH-2501A and CECH-2501B are both certified for 802.11b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR differing only in hard disk drive configurations. We're also seeing a pair of PS3 DECH-2500A and DECH-S2500A debugging stations -- interesting since a debug unit is typically only required when there's been a change in the chips on the motherboard. Feel free to speculate as we prepare for E3 to kick off on June 15th.
Engadget's E3 coverage kicks off tonight!
Alright kids, we're locked and loaded at E3 2007, and while the list of attendees has been pared quite substantially from years past, there's still fun to be had. The action here in Santa Monica will get kicked off tonight with Microsoft's press conference, and rest assured, we'll be delivering the blow-by-blow coverage right here with our brohams from Joystiq when it commences at 8:30PM PST. The rest of the week will see conferences from big shots such as Nintendo and Sony (both slated for tomorrow), as well as lesser brand names such as Activision, Disney Interactive, Electronic Arts, Midway, and Konami. So if you've been itching for some fresh gaming minutiae to chew on, keep it locked right here for your E3 fix.See also: Engadget's E3 2006 coverage, Engadget's E3 2005 coverage, Engadget's E3 2004 coverage
Microsoft preps Xbox.com for E3 coverage
Last year Microsoft gave gamers unprecedented access to major gaming conferences including the X06, the Tokyo Game Show and E3. And even though this year's E3 has shrunk a little, Microsoft will still be giving gamers and insider's look into what E3 2007 has to offer. Xbox @ E3 will feature trailers, on demand service, blogs and other media on Xbox.com and presumably over Xbox Live. Currently, they have some content up including a look at how the new mini E3 benefits everyone and a must see list that hints at the Halo 3 campaign being demoed at the conference. Take a gander through the current Xbox @ E3 goods and countdown the days to an exciting E3. Bring it on!
2007 E3 attendee list lookin' bleak
Remember those suffocating crowds and the completely non-game-related overload that eventually caused a restructuring at E3? If not, we certainly do, and you won't find us complaining about a more focused approach for 2007. Of course, toning down the antics inevitebly leads to less attendees, and such looks to be the case for the July convention in Santa Monica, CA. Reportedly, a paltry 32 companies are signed up to take part in this year's festivities (larger list after the jump), but big-timers such as Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, Electronic Arts, and Square Enix (just to name a few) will still be making the hike. Still, going from some 400 exhibitors to less than 40 in a single year should make for a very different experience when July 11th rolls around, and considering that "only 3,000 to 4,000 invitations" will purportedly be sent out, getting a little hands-on time with an actual game will hopefully be less of a chore for the ones that get in.[Via ArsTechnica]
E for All Expo takes the reigns, stays in Los Angeles
Those of you so deeply saddened and hurt by E3's sudden departure can take heart, as there's a new trade show coming to town, and hopefully it'll be half as good as the tried-and-true Electronic Entertainment Expo of days past. Slated to open its doors to the public and adoring media on October 18th through the 20th, the Entertainment for All Expo sports a kinder, more inviting title, that apparently hopes to focus more on the general public rather than industry insiders and advertising giants. Clearly hoping to garner more attention by continually stating that "this show is for everyone," IDG World Expo also claims that we kiddos will be able to "test drive the latest in games and gadgetry" as well as purchase things we like right on site. So while it'll (probably) never live up the expo of old, we're still down with ginormous trade shows with too much to do in not nearly enough time, and hey, now you've already got something to look forward to in October.
Lowenstein to leave ESA in early 2007
Entertainment Software Association President Doug Lowenstein will lose his long job title when he steps down in early 2007, according to GameSpot. It appears that he "has accepted the top position with a still-forming trade organization that would represent a consortium of retail investment firms." As the head of the ESA, Lowenstein's image was thrown in the spotlight when E3 was downsized and reborn as the E3 Media Festival. Not to mention certain anti-game activists seem to point to him whenever the industry makes a misstep (or can interpreted to have flubbed).So who will become the new president? Oft-rumored Entertainment Consumers Association founder Hal Halpin has denied interest. But don't let that stop you from voting Halpin in Game Politics' informal / unofficial poll to name the successor.
ESA confirms E3's dead, long live E3Expo
Well, word's in from ESA and and E3 is set to be all but castrated -- though not killed entirely. Apparently it will become a kinder, gentler, "more intimate" trade show after E3 sought counseling and found itself to suffer from severe cases of ADD, Tourette's, and harbor deep-rooted antisocial tendencies. But instead of putting the loud and raucous show on meds and calling it a day, they're rebranding it as E3Expo (which would, effectively, stand for Electronic Entertainment Expo Expo, making it E4) for 2007, and calling it a smaller, more focused event because, "It is no longer necessary or efficient to have a single industry 'mega-show.'" Whereas we may or may not agree with that statement, one thing is definitely sure: the days of E3 as we know it are officially over. So to our pals in the media and our readers who loved keeping tabs on the madness come early May each year, well, we'll always have Pari, erm, Vegas.[Via Next Generation]
Overheard: polite clapping for Nintendo is quite enough, fanboys
Fellow Joystiq blogger Chris Grant forwarded the following quote to me and asked, "Why does this sound like something you'd say?" Washington Post blogger Mike Musgrove overheard one member of a cluster of bloggers behind him caution his fellow bloggers just prior to the beginning of the Nintendo's E3 press conference: "Remember, no fanboyism -- if something happens, polite clapping is enough." Hilarious! ... but only for a moment. Editorialising follows after the post break.
Paris Hilton as an E3 booth babe
The press release arrived with a subject line that screamed, "DON'T MISS THIS E3 CELEBRITY APPEARANCE." A split second away from hitting the delete hotkey, I paused when I noticed that Paris Hilton was the celeb who'd be making an appearance. But this will be no typical Paris Hilton gaming appearance. This time, Ms. Hilton will be working the chubby hordes who visit the West Hall to snag her signature and maybe check out the game that will bear her name, Paris Hilton's Jewelry Case. (No joke.) Paris will be hanging out (and we do mean hanging out) at the Gameloft booth (#2200) on Thursday for two hours. We wonder if she'll have to abide by the new E3 booth babe rules, which state: "Material, including live models, conduct that is sexually explicit and/or sexually provocative, including but not limited to nudity, partial nudity and bathing suit bottoms, are prohibited on the Show floor, all common areas, and at any access points to the Show." Break the ESA's rules at your own risk, Paris. No sexual provocation, or we'll have you bounced. Be a good girl, got it?
Xbox 360's third-party support may suffer, says analyst
In his morning research report, Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities backs up our own conjecture that Sony's PS3 controller (dubbed "dual shake" by bloggers) is going to make Microsoft's life difficult. He writes, "The Xbox 360 controller is a conventional controller with no motion sensors built in. Ultimately, we think that many developers will opt to make games for the PS3 and the Wii, and will not make the same game for the Xbox 360, giving Sony and Nintendo a content advantage over Microsoft." We agree that Microsoft's reaction to this announcement is critically important. Will the company be able to speak to this issue at all today? (Update: added image to the post.)
Joystiq's E3 everything page
We're pleased to announce the availability of our E3 2006 page: e3-2006.joystiq.com Our team of bloggers will be posting all E3 content to e3-2006.joystiq.com, providing readers with a one-stop page for keeping up with all of the latest news, views, opinions and gaming goodness from across the Joystiq network. In addition to a sizable Joystiq team, we've shipped in a gaggle of bloggers from NintendoWiiFanboy, Xbox360Fanboy, DSFanboy, PS3Fanboy too. All of their content will also appear on this page. [Image credit: Scott Johnson, creator of game comic ExtraLife.]
Joystiq t-shirts are hot and here
The team is sporting our o-fficial Joystiq t-shirts at E3 this week. (Also: good news for all of you who were lucky enough to pre-order a shirt before they sold out: the shirts ship to you today.) If you see any of us in the t-shirts, don't be shy. Come and say "Hi!" Don't worry, each of us has more than just one shirt -- you don't think we'd wear the same t-shirt five days in a row without washing?!?! Each team member actually has two each. (Don't do the math, we won't either.)
Engadget at E3
Just in case you were concerned, we've landed safely in LA for a fanboy-filled week of E3 coverage. We've teamed up with Joystiq to bring you up to the second breaking news, keynote coverage, and in-depth interviews here on Engadget, and over at e3-2006.joystiq.com. Sony kicks off with the first "big three" keynote around 4PM tomorrow, followed by Nintendo and Microsoft on Tuesday around 11AM and 2PM respectively. Now is the time to call out your predictions for maximum cred potential. Our bets are all set for a Sony controller design reminiscent of the Wiimote, an "oh snap" HD DVD moment from Microsoft, and an open apology by Nintendo for the Wii moniker, but maybe that's just us.
Nintendo press briefing ticket scan
Nintendo's press briefing on Tuesday morning, May 9th is sure to be interesting, mostly because the company has promised to unveil major new information about Wii. They've done something different this year. The company's controlling access to the conference via color-coded tickets. Those with a green ticket will sit in a certain zone, and those with other-color tickets will sit elsewhere. Is there any significance to the color-coding or to the word associated with a given color? Those of you who'll be attending, what color is your ticket, and what does it say in the silver box in the middle of it? Hyrule, huh? Maybe we'll be fed more details about how the newest iteration of Nintendo's Zelda franchise will utilize as-yet undisclosed functionality of Wii.
Let the E3 bloopers begin! Press list exposed.
As part of the E3 registration process for press, would-be attendees are given the choice of receiving announcements about the show from vendors and other exhibitors. All press registrants who answer "yes" to this question are added to a massive list that was -- until today -- a secret. What happened? It seems that one Morten Iverson "ZEO & Creative Manager" for Copenhagen-based ZeitGuyz Game Developers, emailed all of us "journalists" with an offer to see a new game concept developed by his company. He forgot to use the "BCC" field, though, and in the process exposed the entire list to its recipients. Oops. Concept shmoncept! We were more interested in the list of folks who had registered as press. As you may be as well. Here's that list, stripped down to just the domain name of the outlets who will be covering E3. As the diversity here indicates, E3 is going to be a regular media circus! Remember, this is only a partial list, as some portion of registrants have opted out of being on it. Click "continue" for the list.
