The PC returns to the spotlight

It’s fair to say that in the last decade or so, consoles have been the top dog. For consumers, their relative low entry cost, guarantee to play games tailored for the system, and easy-to-use online multi-player functionality gave confidence for those looking for a dedicated gaming machine. But the rise of consoles left the PC behind in the dust. Games that begun as PC exclusives eventually became console exclusive, leaving anticipating PC gamers feeling betrayed and neglected. Even PC games that were developed along their console counter-parts often suffered from what is referred to as consolification, or designing the game in a way to meet the limitations of a console. However, games releasing this year are beginning to lean more towards accepting the PC as a viable platform instead of an after-thought.

New Nintendo Console to be Unveiled at E3

GameInformer confirmed yesterday through its sources that Nintendo will be revealing a new console this year. The console will be unveiled at this year’s E3, or possibly sooner, and is expected to utilize full HD-capable graphics. In terms of processing power, it is unclear whether the console will rival the current generation’s frontrunners, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Speculation about a new console gained momentum when a rumor surfaced about a price drop for the Nintendo Wii. According to Joystiq, an inventory list from Kmart listed the console as $149.99 starting May 15th.

According to sources, Nintendo is already showing the console to developers and publisher, hoping to attract their interest for the new console’s software. At a press conference for the Nintendo 3DS, Satoru Iwata, President and CEO of Nintendo, stated, “We need to decrease the concern that only Nintendo software can sell well on Nintendo platforms and third-party software cannot sell in the same volume. We feel a need to have closer ties to our third-party developers from the beginning.” The console is expected to launch in late 2012.

No information about online support was revealed. However, IGN is reporting that the new console will feature backwards compatibility with current Wii titles. CVG is reporting that the console’s controllers won’t simply be an upgraded Wii remote, but may contain a built-in HD screen.

It is still unknown if the console will continue the branding of the Wii, or change the name in favor of something new. More information will become available over the coming months as we head towards E3.

Nintendo 3DS available March 27 for $249.99

Nintendo held a press conference today in New York to announce details of their upcoming handheld device, the Nintendo 3DS. The device creates a realistic 3D effect, without the use of glasses, pushing the market in a direction where televisions can some day support the same technology. Sorry Sony. The device also features an analog stick (a first for Nintendo handheld devices), ability to play games and video in 3D, and take advantage of 3D photography. It will come with a 2GB SD card, charging cradle, the ability to transfer data from the Nintendo DSi. The 3D effect is also adjustable, allowing games to be played in both 2D and 3D. The Nintendo 3DS will be available in blue or black and retail for $249.99 starting March 27, 2011. Starting today, it is also available for pre-order at GameStop, Amazon, and other retailers.

Nintendo said that the launch window for the Nintendo 3DS will have over 30 games, leading up to E3 in June. First-party launch titles for the Nintendo 3DS include Animal Crossing, Kid Icarus Uprising, Mario Kart, Paper Mario, Pilotwings Resort, Star Fox 64 3D, and Steel Diver. Third-party highlights include Dead or Alive Dimensions, Madden NFL Football, Rayman 3D, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, Ridge Racer 3D, The Sims 3, Splinter Cell 3D, and Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition.

Check out Joystiq’s media round-up including videos and screenshots of all the games for Nintendo’s newest handheld console.

Sometimes I wish I was a Console Gamer

I love being a PC gamer. The number of reasons why PC gaming is superb is more than just a handful, as opposed to what console gamers might suggest. Mouse and keyboard support is the most precise control on any system. The ability to switch DPI on the fly for sniping is invaluable. An analog stick on a controller just doesn’t match. High resolutions and true HD gaming are a standard for the PC. While consoles of this generation are just now approaching 1080p, resolutions of 1280x1024 and higher have been a staple of PC gaming since the early 2000s. The fact that resolutions range as high as 2560x1440 nowadays shows how far ahead PC gaming is in terms of computing power and graphics. The modding community is a strong sub-culture in PC gaming. Fans of many games have taken their existing architecture and used them to create new maps, weapons, items, or entire new games. Counter-Strike originally started as a mod for Half-Life, and it grew into a full fledge title. The number of mods that can be found for Unreal, Quake, Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, StarCraft, Fallout, and many more games show that while the shelf-life of a title is finite, the modding community can extend it’s prevalence to near infinite.