E3

For the uninitiated, E3 is the Electronic Entertainment Expo held every may for a week in Los Angeles. Today was the last day, and I'm exhausted. I had two days at the three-day expo, and saw some brilliant stuff. Only have time for a short observation, which I share as it was passed to me by the actual observer on this:

Three console makers at a game of high-low poker.

This week was final declaration.

Sony and Microsoft both go high (graphics and interconnectivity battle on PS3 for $600 and Xbox for $400). Their games have to look the best. Sony has the much more powerful chip, but it's two years before we'll see the first games that are correctly programmed to take advantage of it. Microsoft has an extablished, robust online service structure, Xbox Live.

Nintendo said fine, we'll take half the pot, and just went low.

Their new Wii (rumored) at $250 (all of these numbers are before peripherals and a first real game), a cost roughly 60% less than the PS3. It de-emphasizes graphics, since theirs are the weakest of all on advance over current gen (Gamecube), in favor of innovative gameplay designed to bring a whole new audience to gaming.

The Xbox guys are breathing a sign of relief and feeling like winners this week. The Sony teams are likely getting hardest to work on Monday morning.

Nintendo, as a company, is about to have a helluva lot of fun.