The 12 most exciting games of E3 2013

E3 2013 was home to dozens of unique titles and brand new franchises. Here are 12 titles we're most excited about.

(Credit: CD Projekt)

Where last year's show felt empty, E3 2013 was anything but. Show-goers were treated to a barrage of new software to gawk over, a lot of which are brand-new franchises. Taking into consideration criticism from my past lists, I'll be highlighting only games that featured gameplay of some kind. As long as someone played it at E3, it's fair game. Sorry, trailers and teasers won't cut it this year!

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Xbox One vs. PS4

Gizmag compares the specs (and other features) of the Sony PS4 and Microsoft Xbox One

Typically, E3 is all about new game announcements. Though we still had a few of those this year, 2013 was more about hardware: the Xbox One and PS4. Both push the technical boundaries of gaming consoles, offer their own mixes of strengths and weaknesses, and release at around the same time. So how do you choose? Allow Gizmag to lend a hand, as we compare the specs (and other features) of the Microsoft Xbox One and Sony PlayStation 4.

Storage

Both consoles sport 500 GB internal hard drives. In terms of future-proofing, though, the PS4 might be the better choice. Like the PS3, it will let you upgrade the hard drive. The Xbox won't.

There is one option for expanding your Xbox One storage though. It lets you attach an external hard drive via USB. You can do everything with that drive that you can with the internal one.

We don't yet know whether the PS4 lets you use USB drives for storage, but we do know that it has two USB 3.0 ports.

RAM

Both systems have 8 GB of RAM. The PS4's GDDR5 memory, however, is faster than the Xbox's DDR3 RAM. Will this be something that you actually notice in day-to-day use? It's still too early to say.

Processor

AMD cashed in on this generation of gaming consoles, as it provides the octa-core processors for both the Xbox One and PS4.

Graphics

Both consoles also feature AMD Radeon GPUs, which are integrated into their respective Accelerated Processing Units (APUs).

This is obviously a simple visual that doesn't begin to tell the full story, but that's only because we don't yet know the full story. Developers will need time to tinker around with both consoles, and we might not even have a definitive "graphics winner" a year after both consoles have been on the market.

One thing worth keeping an eye on is how easy or hard it is to develop for each console. Last generation, the PS3 was, on a specs level, graphically superior to the Xbox 360. But the Xbox 360 was easier to develop for and port to. Thus side-by-side comparisons of cross-platform games often favored the Xbox.

You'll want to take this with many grains of salt, but there have been early whispers that the PS4 is a joy to develop for. It might not sound like much now, but software can make or break hardware. This could be an encouraging sign for the PS4.

Having said that, we spent some time with both unreleased consoles during E3. The early games we saw on both systems look terrific, with graphics that are roughly in line with recent PC games.

Size

Unless you're cramped for space under your TV, this probably won't be a deal-breaker one way or the other. But, for what it's worth, the Xbox One is the bigger console. In terms of surface area, it's 21 percent larger than the new PlayStation. And that isn't counting the new Kinect, which ships with every new Xbox One.

Note that the Xbox One's listed dimensions aren't official, but are based on some clever calculations (based on the USB port) by PSMania.

Discs played

Last time around, the PS3 had a big leg up on the Xbox 360, in that it played Blu-ray discs. No worries with either next-gen console, as (unsurprisingly) both will play your Blu-rays and DVDs.

Game formats

Neither Sony or Microsoft had the gall to go digital download only (probably a wise decision). Both systems will play physical discs as well as downloaded games.

Backwards compatibility

Sorry, Xbox 360 and PS3 owners. None of your old games will play on your next-gen console.

Sony might offer cloud-streamed PS3 games at some point down the road. But, even if that does happen, be prepared to pay for your old games all over again.

Used game blocking

For many customers, this category might trump all others. Microsoft is giving game publishers the option to either block or charge a fee for used game activations on the Xbox One.

The PS4's used game policy is the same as the PS3's. PS4 game publishers have the option of using Online Passes, which can restrict online or multiplayer portions of a game to the original owner. But, unlike the Xbox One, the PS4 will not block used game discs altogether.

Many gamers are miffed at Microsoft's policy here. Will the backlash be enough to tip the scales in Sony's favor? Only time will tell.

Internet requirements

Microsoft is going all-in on DRM with the Xbox One. In addition to the used game issue, the console also requires an internet connection once every 24 hours. Go more than a day without going online, and you won't be able to play your games.

Default controllers

Look familiar? Both next-gen controllers borrow heavily from their respective predecessors. We handled both of them at E3, and they only feel slightly different in hand. Both feel a bit lighter (particularly the PS4's DualShock 4) and more comfortably contoured for hands.

The biggest addition is the DualShock 4's touchpad. Similar to the one on the back of the Vita, it supports multitouch, and will give developers a new toy to play with.

The new DualShock also loses the Start and Select buttons. They get replaced by a new Options button. The Xbox One's controller also loses Back and Start. Its replacements are Menu and View, which might end up serving similar functions.

Motion control

Sony didn't emphasize the PS4's motion controls during E3. We do know that the PS4's Move and Camera (formerly PlayStation Eye) will be sold separately. The PS4's DualShock 4 also includes some baked-in motion control. Our initial impression, though, is that none of it is in the same league as the Kinect 2.

As we already mentioned, Kinect will ship with every Xbox One. In a private demonstration with Microsoft at E3, we caught a glimpse of the new Kinect's capabilities. The level of precision here is like nothing any other current gaming console can give you. Imagine pointing your finger at something on the screen, and having the sensor know exactly what you were indicating. This could open all sorts of doors for developers (hopefully not just of the gimmicky kind).

Voice control

Alongside the Kinect 2's motion control, it also lets users control certain things via voice. This includes elements of games, system functions, and live TV.

Sony hasn't mentioned any similar functionality in the PS4, though the PlayStation Camera does have a built-in microphone.

Live TV integration

Speaking of live TV, this is a big area that Microsoft focused on with the Xbox One. Steve Ballmer and company don't want this to be an extension of the traditional gaming console. This is Microsoft's attempt to own the 21st century living room.

From the in-person demo we saw at E3, it looks promising. We're talking voice control, gesture control, seamless multitasking, notifications ... in many ways, the Xbox One is what some of us expected from the long-rumored and unannounced Apple TV set. We believe the Xbox One has a chance to be a real game-changer in this respect.

Both consoles will, of course, also let you watch streaming services like Netflix and Hulu Plus.

Release date

Microsoft was a little more specific with the Xbox One's November release date, but both consoles should ship at around the same time. We're guessing October or November for the PS4.

Pricing

The PS4 costs US$100 less than the Xbox One. But remember that the Xbox One ships with Kinect. The PS4's motion accessories (PS Move and PlayStation Camera) not only aren't on par with Kinect 2, but they're also sold separately. So, depending on your priorities, pricing may or may not be an advantage for the PS4.

Wrap-up

Like most of these comparisons that we do, the "winner" will depend on what you're looking for. If you're excited about futuristic gesture and voice control, then the Xbox One looks likely to be your champion. If you want your console to be the center of all of your living room entertainment, then you'll also want to look at the Xbox.

Our initial view is that the PS4 might be better at being a classic gaming console. We're basing this mostly on the DRM factor. If you're buying your next console for traditional, controller-laden, hardcore gaming, then Sony will let you do that with less restrictions. You can buy used games and take your console on vacations where you don't have internet access, without any concerns.

Of course this comparison is far from complete. There are still many unknowns, and we've yet to see side-by-side comparisons of cross-platform games. And, like we already mentioned, developers will need time to do their thing.

The picture of these two next-gen systems is gradually forming, but that image will continue to evolve. Stay tuned for more as this is far from the last word on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

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Dead Rising 3

I was not a big fan of Dead Rising 2 because it seemed like a game that had lost its way. The team at Blue Castle Games says they realize that and has shifted some of the focus for Dead Rising 3, the upcoming Xbox One exclusive.

Dead Rising 3 puts zombies first, making them the star of the game instead of the ridiculous ways you can customize your character. Sure, that side of the game is still in there, but the focus this time will be capturing the mood of a zombie apocalypse. Dead Rising 3 is grittier, gloomier and way more intense. Did I mention it's the size of Dead Rising 1 and 2 combined and some?

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Quantum Break

Developer Remedy already has one of the most anticipated games of the next-generation and we've only scraped the surface of seeing what the game will actually play like. However, in the short time we all saw the game, the studio has made a very compelling case for our attention.

Quantum Break will deal with elements of quantum physics and time manipulation all while presented a TV episodic format in some capacity. The developer has earned the reptuation of one to watch, so I'm confident Quantum Break will bring its own special brand of fun when it's released exclusively on Xbox One next year.

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Super Mario 3D World

The team behind the amazing Super Mario Galaxy games has been working hard on Super Mario 3D World, the first time we're ever seeing a 3D Mario game in HD. Crazy, right? What I loved about playing Super Mario 3D World was that I could choose any of the classic Nintendo four-player roster, identical to the options in Super Mario Bros. 2. Speaking of that classic game, each player will have a similar special ability.

Super Mario 3D World will also be completely playable in off-TV mode and work with up to four players simulatenously. Look for it on Wii U when it releases this December.

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The Evil Within

Could it be that survival horror is back? Maybe. Shinji Mikami, the creator of Resident Evil, has started his own studio called Tanjo Gameworks and hopes to breath new life into the genre. And when I say new life, I mostly mean blood and death. His new game, The Evil Within, was the absolute most frieghtening thing I saw at E3 2013, let alone in a very long time.

In the few minutes of gameplay I experience, I witnessed a handful of things I simply couldn't unsee. The Evil Within will not only explore some pretty wicked torture and stealth, but also attempt to pyschologically unravel the player with illusions and other trickery. The Evil Within will hit consoles both current and next-gen in 2014.

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Batman: Arkham Origins

There's some concern about Batman: Arkham Origins, mainly because the series' original developer, Rocksteady Games, is no longer behind the wheel. Instead, Warner Brothers Games Montreal is heading up the project, albeit with same engine Rocksteady was using. I got to see and play Arkham Origins and was relieved to find that most of its entertaining gameplay was kept in tact.

But what I really enjoyed seeing was a new crime scene construction mechanic the game introduces, which adds on to what has already been in the games. But with this expansion, players can now use Bruce Wayne's detective prowesses to virtually rewind time and discover events that have already taken place.

Batman: Arkham Origins hits all platforms on October 25th.

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Dying Light

Easiest way for me to set this one up: Mirror's Edge meets Dead Island. That's right, the team behind Dead Island (and the not-so-good Dead Island Riptide) is back with a new publisher (Warner Bros.) to bring current and next-generation consoles a new zombie story that combines what can only be described as parkour gameplay and zombie-killing.

Here's the kicker: At night, the zombies get even more crazy, so you'll have to play the game much differently when the sun goes down. I got to play around 20 minutes of Dying Light and was convinced that the team had something special brewing. See for yourself when it hits in 2014.

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PlayJam's GameStick micro Android game console gets set to take on Ouya (hands-on)

The $79 GameStick, which comes bundled with a controller, plugs into the HDMI port of your TV.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

As Microsoft and Sony gear up to release powerful next-gen gaming consoles that cost $500 and $400 respectively, a handful of companies are diving into the sub-$100 gaming space with Android-based "micro" game consoles.

Ouya and its hypersuccessful Kickstarter campaign, which raised $8.5 million, have gotten the most attention. But U.K.-based casual-gaming company PlayJam is getting set to ship its tiny, plug-and-play GameStick this July for $20 less than the $99 Ouya, which has been trickling out to customers who preordered it, but is still a little rough around the edges, particularly in terms of its interface. I recently got some hands-on time with the GameStick and wanted to pass on some first impressions.

Design and features
The package will include a game controller and an AC adapter to power the GameStick, which runs on an Amlogic 8726-MX processor (it's a dual-core, 1.5GHz Cortex A9 chip combined with a dual-core, 400MHz Mali 400 GPU). Other specs include 1GB of memory, Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11b/g/n for connectivity, 8GB of onboard flash storage, and a microSD expansion slot that accepts cards of up to 32GB. It runs Android Jelly Bean.

The controller has a flat rectangular design and the final version will have a slot for storing the GameStick.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The GameStick looks like an enlarged thumbdrive and plugs directly into an open HDMI slot on your TV. If your TV supports MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link), then the GameStick will detect that automatically and draw power from the TV. If it doesn't, then you plug the power adapter into the Micro-USB port on the stick. Alternatively, if your TV has a USB port (and it's powered), you run the included cable to the Micro-USB port on the stick and power the unit that way.

The controller has a unique look and is flatter and more rectangular than most. It connects to the GameStick via Bluetooth. PlayJam Chief Marketing Officer Anthony Johnson says that any Bluetooth game controller should work with the system, so if you have an extra PS3 controller lying around, you can use it as a second controller, but I haven't tested that yet. PlayJam will also sell a controller as a separate accessory and the system currently supports four controllers connected at the same time.

The controller I used wasn't a final product and Johnson noted that the shipping controller would have a slot for storing the GameStick for transport. Ergonomically, the controller felt pretty good in hand and fairly solid, not cheap. It's not quite as good as a PS3 or Xbox 360 controller, but I'll reserve judgment until I get the final product.

The micro console has 8GB of flash storage and a microSD expansion slot that accepts cards up to 32GB.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

I mainly looked at the gaming end of things, but Johnson said the GameStick would also have additional features, such as video playback through the XBMC media center (you could store files on a memory card), as well as a Netflix client, though it probably won't be available at launch. The company is open to having developers and hackers come up with custom software for the unit, and Johnson expects to see plenty of modded GameSticks in the future.

As far as the store goes, it's PlayJam's, not Google's, and will be populated with around 100 titles at launch, all of which offer game controller support (that seems obvious but just thought I'd make it clear). PlayJam is tiny compared with Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft, but it has built a large global platform for casual and social games for smart TVs, so it has the experience to build a well-designed store. The interface I saw looked pretty slick and inviting and PlayJam was still in the process of improving it. The question, of course, is whether the company can convince big game developers to tweak their Android games to support game controllers and make them part of the GameStick games roster.

The heat venting on the GameStick.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Gameplay
I only played a few games -- Riptide, the FPS Shadowgun, and Expendable Rearmed, a 2D arcade shooter -- and all ran smoothly on a 1080p Panasonic TV. The water effects in Riptide looked as impressive as they do on a high-resolution tablet display. Johnson said the GameStick would ship with the aforementioned dual-core processor but PlayJam's engineers were looking at quad-core processors down the road. The larger Ouya uses a more powerful quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, but Johnson says the processor in the GameStick is capable of running all current Android games.

I had some fantasies about playing FIFA's soccer franchise using the GameStick controller (alas, FIFA is only available as FIFA 12 on Android), but as of now, the GameStick lineup doesn't seem incredibly exciting, though Johnson said that once the system is launched the company will be adding new games quickly. Also, two games are included for free with the system.

A few of the 100 or so launch titles that will be available for GameStick.

(Credit: David Carnoy/CNET)

A world of potential
From the 30 minutes or so I spent with the GameStick, it appears to have a lot of potential. It's obviously very portable. And at $79, it's quite affordable. Just as importantly, games for it will be cheap, with prices mirroring those of Android smartphone and tablet games. Some of its success will hinge on whether the platform can avoid any glitches out of the gate and how fast it can add more premium games. It also doesn't hurt that GameStop is an investor, so it's got some retail presence here in the U.S.

Riptide ran smoothly.

(Credit: David Carnoy/CNET)

That said, Ouya will soon become more widely available and other companies, such as Mad Catz, are entering the market with their own Android micro consoles (Mad Catz's system is called M.O.J.O.). Gamepop is taking preorders for its subscription-based Android mini gaming system and let's not forget the portable Android game consoles with built-in displays -- Wikipad and Nvidia's Shield.

All these upstarts talk a good game about making "open" platforms and wanting to appeal to indie developers. But what remains to be determined is which platform -- or platforms -- will break out and achieve critical mass. There's probably only room for a couple, though PlayJam's Johnson says the company would be perfectly happy to license its GameStick Gaming Network to any hardware manufacturer who wants it.

We'll have a full review of the GameStick once we receive the final product later this summer.

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Hands-on: Super Mario 3D World for Wii U

Nintendo's Wii U hasn't exactly set the world on fire. But if there's any genre that can take it off of life support, it's a 3D Mario game. Nintendo told us a while back that one was in the works, but today the company took the cat out of the bag (in this case, quite literally). It's called Super Mario 3D World, and we got a chance to play it today at E3.

Super Mario 3D World is the spiritual successor to 2011's 3DS hit, Super Mario 3D Land. Having played that game – and now two levels of the Wii U version – you'll see a lot that's familiar, but also a lot that's different.

The most obvious difference is four-player co-op. The experience is every bit as insane as the last co-cop Mario games (like New Super Bros. Wii and New Super Mario Bros. U). It's fast-paced, wacky, platforming bedlam.

Another new feature is Mario's cat suit. Grab the power-up, and you'll be able to climb walls (Mario also crawls like a cat while wearing the suit). This lets you reach platforms and areas that you wouldn't otherwise be able to get to.

Being a Wii U game, Nintendo naturally incorporated some asymmetric gameplay with the GamePad. I used the GamePad in our zany four-player match, and it let me do things like stopping spinning platforms and stunning enemies. If you've ever played Super Mario Bros. U, this is all familiar: touch the screen to help out your buddies.

Nintendo also paid tribute here to the NES classic, Super Mario Bros. 2 by giving our heroes different abilities. Luigi jumps higher, Princess Peach floats, Toad is fast, and Mario has the most even-keeled, all-around set of powers. Those are the only four characters you can choose from in Mario 3D World.

So we'll look forward to some more extended hands-on time with Nintendo's latest. Especially some single-player action, where Nintendo's level design tends to stand out more. But, based on these quick first impressions, it looks promising. Maybe not Mario Galaxy promising, but any 3D Mario game should be good news for starved Wii U owners.

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Xbox One at E3: Up close with Microsoft, and hands-on

The E3 floodgates are open, and attendees are getting their hands on upcoming games and unreleased consoles. We've already given you our quick impressions of the PlayStation 4, but we also worked in a little time with the Xbox One. You've seen the pictures, and maybe watched the event. But what's it like to use? Read on.

Cloud processing

First, we stepped out of E3's crowded halls, and attended a private, no-cameras-allowed briefing with Microsoft about the Xbox One. Several Xbox engineers broke down the console's ability to process both locally and via the cloud. In the demo, the Xbox One tracked some asteroids. Colors were coded to denote local tracking vs. cloud tracking.

The gist of the pitch was that cloud processing has "infinite" capabilities, which enhance the already upgraded local processing capabilities. It does make for some exciting possibilities: like infinitely-populated MMOs, or open-world games that seem to never end.

But then there's that whole matter of the internet. If you have an unreliable connection, then those cloud processing capabilities go down the tube. Of course, if you have unreliable internet service, the Xbox One probably isn't the console for you anyway.

Full-body gaming

Probably the coolest part of the demo was when the Microsoft rep played a demo game (not an unreleased game, but a game cooked up specifically for demo purposes). It showed just how advanced the new Kinect 2 is – and what doors it can open up.

It started off simple enough, with our Microsoft friend using the Xbox One controller to shoot some baddies. Then he showed how he could activate his shields by simply lifting his controller. Pretty cool, but nothing we haven't seen before.

But then it started to get really fun. To activate his long-range attack, he pointed his finger at different enemies on the screen, which placed a green target on each of them. He then said "launch missiles," and, well, the missiles launched towards all of the targets. Very cool, and only possible with a motion sensor as advanced as the new Kinect 2.

Live TV

In our meeting, Microsoft also showed us more of the console's live TV integration. This is where I believe the console has a chance to be a game-changer.

The engineer leading this part of the demo had a simulated live football game on the screen, then brought up the system's multitasking menu. Switch to Game of Thrones, get scores while watching GOT, receive a notification from another game, send it to Smart Glass on a tablet ... you get the idea.

We're only going off of simulations here (Microsoft wasn't actually using the console in real-time for any of this), but, if it all works as advertised, it delivers much of the "magic" that we've been expecting from the 21st century living room. Voice, gesture, smooth multitasking and notifications: it has the potential to bring the TV into the same century as smartphones and tablets.

Playing the Xbox One

My time hands-on with the actual console was relatively brief, and only involved a tech demo, and two games: LocoCycle, and Powerstar Golf.

It's hard to form too strong an opinion from such limited time, but I can share some initial impressions. The controller feels good: like the PS4's new controller, it too is a bit more compact. The button layout is basically unchanged from the Xbox 360's controller. It feels pretty light.

The controller does have two extra motors (four, to the 360 controller's two), which can lead to more realistic and atmospheric haptic feedback. Like a lot of the glimpses we got, it does more to spark developers' imaginations than it does to actually deliver something mind-blowing right now.

Graphics looked good enough on my demo and the many others I saw around me. It's too early to claim a victor in the Xbox One vs. PS4 graphics showdown, but I can say that they both look roughly like modern PC games.

(source: gizmag)

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Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4

Everything we know about the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One and how each new, yet-to-be-released console compares to each other.

We've still got about 5 months before the new Xbox One and PlayStation 4 (PS4) launch in North America and already blood has been spilled.

From Microsoft gathering an arguably more impressive stable of exclusive games, to Sony revealing the lack of restrictions on PS4 games and a $100 lower price -- effectively, not only kicking the Microsoft brand when its down, but also knocking out a few teeth.

This next console launch may be one of the most exciting and brutal yet and I for one can't wait to comfortably watch from the sidelines, praising Thor I'm not in either of their shoes.

Editors' note (June, 10 11:00 p.m. PT): This story has been extensively updated and expanded since its original publication.

Hardware
The Xbox One and PlayStation 4 house very similar silicon inside their respective bodies, with a few key differences.

According to an exhaustive analysis by Digital Foundry, the biggest difference between the two system's hardware is the type of RAM each uses. The PlayStation 4 uses 8GB GDDR5 RAM, while all signs point to the Xbox One using 8GB of DDR3 RAM. The GDDR5 RAM used in the PlayStation 4 is the same type of RAM used by most PC video cards and is optimized for graphical throughput.

The Playstation 4's Killzone: Shadow Fall is one impressive-looking game.

(Credit: Sony)

Richard Leadbetter at Digital Foundry speculates that the PS4's GPU may have as much as 50 percent more raw graphical computational power than the one in the Xbox One. That, coupled with its faster graphics memory, may translate into prettier games on the PS4.

Judging from the demos shown at both Microsoft's and Sony's press conferences, it's difficult to say which system displayed more impressive real-time graphics. Both Final Fantasy XV (or is it Final Fantasy Versus XIII?) and The Order displayed incredibly impressive real-time cut-scenes on the PS4.

Possibly better than anything I saw on the Xbox One during Microsoft's press conference, but it's hard to say for sure having not actually played any of the games and having so far only seen them from hundreds of feet away on giant, but not nearly giant enough, screens.

Once I've had some hands-on time with plenty of games this week, I'll do another update.

Check out the chart below for more details on the consoles' hardware.

                                                         Xbox One                                       PlayStation 4

Price                                              $499                                                  $399

Availability                                 November 2013                           Holiday 2013

Blu-ray                                          Yes                                                    Yes

Hard drive                                   Built-in (500GB)                           Built-in (500GB)

Motion control                         New Kinect (bundled)               Move controller

CPU                                               8-core x86 AMD                            8-core x86 AMD

RAM                                             8GB DDR3                                        8GB GDDR5

USB 3.0                                       Yes                                                     Yes

Wireless                                    Yes (802.11n w/Wi-Fi Direct)   Yes (802.11n)

Gigabit Ethernet                    Yes                                                      Yes

HDMI                                          Yes (in and out)                             Yes

Suspend/resume

game support                       Yes                                                      Yes

Background

downloading                       Yes                                                       Yes

Native gameplay

sharing (video)                  Yes                                                       Yes

Real-time

gameplay steaming         Yes (Twitch)                                    Yes (Ustream)

Exclusives
To state the obvious: each company's lineup of first-party (self-published) games will be exclusive to its own console. So, as usual, any new Halo, Gears of War, or Fable titles will remain Xbox only, while future Uncharted, Killzone, or Ratchet and Clank games will only appear on PlayStation.

At its E3 press conference E3, Microsoft showed many exclusive first party titles. Key games included Dead Rising 3, Ryse: Son of Rome, Killer Instinct, Quantum Break, Project Spark, Titanfall, and Forza 5. The company also pledged that all DLC (add-on downloadable content) for Activision's Call of Duty: Ghosts would debut first on the Xbox One.

Ryse: Son of Rome, coming exclusively to Xbox One.

Key exclusive PlayStation 4 titles shown include Killzone: Shadow Fall, Infamous: Second Son, Knack, The Order, The Dark Sorcerer, and ten new indie titles.

If I had to pick which console has the strongest line-up of exclusive games, the Xbox One would be my choice. The exclusive games shown just felt more exciting and than what Sony demoed.

However, the true value of these exclusive titles will depend on how well each plays, so look for further impressions later this week. We'll try to spend as much one-on-one time as possible with each game.

Controllers
The handheld controllers of the PS4 and the Xbox One are evolutionary descendants of the versions found on each respective platform.

The Sony DualShock 4 differentiates itself with a clickable touch pad on the front -- giving developers an additional option when designing games, although we've yet to see it in actual application.

The One's new controller brings key ergonomic refinements over its predecessor.

The DualShock 4's body includes a "light bar" in the front that enables motion control functionality with the PS4's Eye camera to track the position and identify where the controller is and, if need be, actually adjust the split-screen orientation during multiplayer couch gaming. The Xbox One will accomplish this with assistance from Kinect, as it automatically tracks who's holding which controller. The DualShock 4 also includes the social-focused Share button, a built-in speaker, and a headphone jack.

A PS4 controller from Sony.

The Xbox One uses Wi-Fi Direct to connect its controller, while the PlayStation 4 relies on Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. On paper, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR's theoretical 3Mbps maximum speed is clearly outclassed by Wi-Fi Direct's 250Mbps theoretical throughput. However, whether this will result in any tangible difference remains to be seen. In the Xbox One's case, the extra bandwidth could end up being important if Microsoft chooses to release add-ons, like a microphone for voice chat, and an updated version of its keyboard pad. It will be interesting to see which wireless standard delivers more efficient battery life.

While we have yet to touch the DualShock 4, CNET's Josh Lowensohn got some very brief hands-on time with the Xbox One game pad.

Motion and voice control
Every Xbox One unit will come bundled with a second-generation Kinect. While the PS4 will be compatible with Sony's Move controller and new stereo camera, it has yet to announce any plans to bundle them with the system.

The new version of Kinect will offer a wider field of view, better tracking of individuals (limited finger tracking is now included), and the ability to track more overall bodies. And (frighteningly!) also determine your current heart rate.

Kinect 2.0 is watching you.

The first Kinect never really made a strong impression with hard-core gamers, and it's too early to tell just how developers will make use of the second generation's upgraded features, but since every Xbox One owner will have one, its functionality advantages will be much more integrated into your overall Xbox experience.

The device will always be on and simply stating, "Xbox on," will power up your entire system and sign you into your account based on facial recognition. Not to be outdone, Sony says its camera will have similar facial recognition functionality.

Sony's PS4 camera will include some of the same functionality as Kinect 2.0, but probably not all.

More than any other next-generation feature, it's the ability to navigate your entire interface simply with the sound of your voice that feels the most futuristic to me. And by "futuristic" I mean, this is the kind of stuff I envisioned we'd see by this time when I was a kid. Interfaces that bring us one step closer to a holodeck.

Right now it's too early to tell which motion/camera solution will be best, but Kinect may at least be the most ubiquitous. That may inspire more developers to utilize more of its enticing offerings in games.

Nongaming entertainment
Microsoft's first Xbox One event in May was clearly focused on communicating that the Xbox One would be much more than simply a box to play video games on, and began its presentation demoing how the system would integrate with your television.

The Xbox One will allow you to switch from game to TV show, to the Web, to a movie, to Skype, easily and smoothly (without switching inputs), with just the sound of your voice. You'll also have the ability to multitask, running games and other apps simultaneously.

The Xbox One will not replace your cable box, but will instead allow you to plug your cable box into it, bypassing your cable company's interface, giving you control of live TV through your Xbox One. You'll even be able to create your own personalized "channel" with the shows and services you choose.

Your TV guide: Xboxed!

(Credit: Microsoft)

Football fans will see deeper integration with NFL on the Xbox One; however, details on how exactly this will work are few. Look for Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and other streaming services to make a return from the 360; whether they remain behind Xbox Gold's pay wall has yet to be addressed by Microsoft.

The PS4 will not want for services like streaming video, but live TV integration is not currently on the table. You will see streaming video through Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, Redbox Instant, MLB TV, and Sony's own Video Unlimited Service, which hosts over 150,000 movies and TV shows to rent or own. Other services like Music Unlimited, Crackle, and Flixster will also be available on the the PS4.

Sony also announced that its currently working on "cutting edge", exclusive PS4 programming "developed with gamers in mind", but didn't provide much more detail than that.

Community and social
During the PS4 reveal back in February, Sony was clearly putting out different messaging compared with what had come before. While PSN has seen vast improvements (especially if you're a Plus member) in its offerings as of late, you'd be hard-pressed to compare it favorably with the Xbox Live community experience.

For PS4, Sony is targeting deep integration into its service. It wants you connected all the time. Things like live video chat and Facebook will be natively integrated. When your friends purchase a new game, you'll know, and you'll be able to play new games before they've even finished downloading.

However, the biggest change is the addition of the Share button on the PS4's controller.

Sony will double down on social for the PS4.

Through this button, gamers can broadcast live gameplay, take screenshots, or share videos of their latest gaming triumphs. Your friends will post comments to your screen while they watch you play. If a player is stuck in a particularly difficult section of a game, he can call in an online friend to literally take over his controls. Frustration successfully circumvented, despite a possible bruised ego on the sharer's part.

That's a feature I'll probably never use (see aforementioned tender ego), but I can easily recognize how incredibly cool and useful this could be for many players out there.

With Remote Play you can stream your PS4 game onto a PlayStation Vita. I'm unsure if this will be available for every game, but it does make the PS Vita much more enticing. To me, at least.

The Xbox One's dashboard. A lot like the Xbox 360's.

(Credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft for its part, has increased its Xbox Live friends list limit from 100 to "all" of them and achievements are getting a big overhaul. It writes on its Xbox One site that the new achievement system will have "richer detail and span across your games and experiences."

Other Xbox One social features include built-in Skype, the ability to track Xbox Live trends, and see what your friends are playing or watching most. With Smart Match you can look for multiplayer games while spending your time in other apps.

Game DVR automatically records the last few seconds of your gameplay and allows you to upload video of your latest triumph for others to see. The Xbox One fully integrates Twitch's live-streaming capabilities. Xbox Live Gold subscribers will be able to not only live stream their own gameplay -- with the option to add voice or video to the stream with Kinect -- but also watch streams of others as well.

SmartGlass will also be more tightly integrated into the Xbox One.

How much?
The Xbox One will launch in November for $499 and the PS4 is coming this holiday for $399. That's a pretty substantial difference, especially given that each system comes with a full 500GB hard drive.

Spec-for-spec, it would appear that the PS4 clearly offers more value, but that's before taking Xbox One's bundled Kinect sensor into account. However, if you couldn't give a Kinectimal's butt about Microsoft's all-seeing eye, then I'd imagine that if the choice was strictly price-based, then it's probably not a difficult one to make.

 

The PS4 in all its space-aged glory.

(Credit: Sony)

As for backward compatibility, Microsoft says no, Sony says not immediately, but in 2014, it plans to launch its cloud gaming service. This will allow PS4 owners to access "a catalog" of "critically acclaimed" PS3 games. So, not truly backwards compatible, but more than what Microsoft is currently planning, which is nothing.

Used games and 'always on'
The Xbox requires periodic online check-ins in order to play games. The PS4 has no such requirement and users can play without Internet connections for as long as they like.

On Xbox One, Microsoft says that game publishers can (if they so desire) "enable" you to trade your games in at "participating retailers." Microsoft also says that the Xbox One is designed so you can lend your games to friends, but puts the responsibility of enabling this strictly on the shoulders of the publisher of each game.

Sony puts no such restrictions on PS4 games, saying "When a gamer buys a PS4 disc, they have the rights to use that disc. They can sell it to another person, lend it to a friend, or keep it forever."

A decidedly different philosophy when it comes to software and what true ownership means in a continually complex digital age. While Microsoft's approach has obvious stoked consumer ire, I have to wonder how publishers are responding to Sony's planned methods.

Still, the proof will be in the pudding and how all of this stuff actually plays out after each console's release, we just can't say yet. Neither console is inexpensive, but Sony definitely seems to be taking a much more pro-consumer approach.

Would you pay $499 for a console in 2013?

Later this year
Look to CNET for our continuing coverage of both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 leading up to each new system's respective launches. Though we don't have all the details just yet, what has been revealed thus far is incredibly exciting, at least for someone (me) who's been gaming for some 35 years now.

I'm anticipating two incredibly impressive systems to launch this year. I hope I'm not disappointed.

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Microsoft launches slimmer, quieter Xbox 360

Microsoft's new Xbox 360 is styled after Xbox One

 

All eyes are on Microsoft at E3 today, where punters are eager to learn more about the gaming potential of the Xbox One. Imagine their surprise, then, when the company seized the opportunity to first announce a new-look Xbox 360, very much styled after its future heir.

Microsoft suggests that the new slimmer 360 is even quieter than the current model, which itself has made significant gains in the near-silent stakes to earlier iterations of the console.

The company took the opportunity to press home its continued support for the ageing console, with "hundreds" of new games slated for a release this coming year. These include high profile sequels such as Dark Souls 2, Grand Theft Auto V and Splinter Cell: Blacklist. World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition and Max: The Curse of Brotherhood were also announced as 360 exclusives.

Next-gen games that will also see release on the 360 include Call of Duty: Ghosts, Grand Theft Auto V, Battlefield 4, Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Watch Dogs, Batman: Arkham Origins and Fable Anniversary.

Microsoft also announced that Xbox Live Gold subscribers will soon be treated to two free games downloads per month between Jul. 1 and Dec. 31, from a choice including Halo 3 and Assassin's Creed 2.

The unit is shipping today to retailers in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland. A 4-GB version looks set to cost US$199.99, a 250-GB version for $299.99, and a 4-GB version plus Kinect also for $299.99.

There's life in the ol' dog yet.

Source: Xbox

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