E3 2008 - Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo

The annual E3 Media and Business Summit will kick off the three day stint starting on July 15^th 2008 in Los Angeles and ends on July 17th. Most gamers understand the term "E3", but if not you should gain a basic understanding of what happens after reading this article.

E3 is an event of "show and tell" if you will. Computer and Console video games are showcased by entertainment companies from all over the world. Not only are games showcased, but many companies wait until E3 to announce hard news and projects currently underway. It is a great three day event for gamers because the "invitation only" guests spill the beans that spread like viruses across the Internet. I always find it amusing that a project or feature can be turned upside down by online gaming communities. My advice for gaming news is to stick with well known gaming sites for honest and valid information. Let's take a quick look at some "rumored" information about each console...

Microsoft's Xbox 360

- Microsoft merging with Epic games

- $30 price cuts to compete with Nintendo Wii's price range

- The standard 20GB model being replaced with a 60GB hard drive

- External Blu-Ray drive to compete with the Playstation 3

- Xbox Live Gold membership price cuts to compete with "Playstation home"

Sony's Playstation 3

- "Playstation Home" that serves as a virtual meeting place for Sony users free of charge

- All Playstation titles revealed and exclusive Playstation 3 titles for the holiday season

Nintendo's Wii

- An all new game for the holidays, possibly Zelda

- Several top of the line titles expected to be announced for serious gamers

- And since the Nintendo Wii and DS are top sellers among the consoles, Nintendo will most likely bask in the glory of sales numbers.

- Don't expect any hardware changes from Nintendo.

As a former Xbox 360 owner and a Playstation 3 owner since launch, I must admit that Sony could end up shining bright if they deliver on their promises about Playstation Home and trophy support that was introduced in the Firmware 2.40 update. E3 would be a great time to reveal these anticipated features and information on several key issues. I must say that if Sony doesn't come through on their words, Microsoft could regain momentum with some big changes in price and the holiday season not too far away. Nintendo just keeps rollin' and doesn't look like it will slow down anytime soon, so it should definitely be an interesting E3 for gamers and non gamers alike. The company who wins this battle could very well continue to increase sales heading into the holidays, so time will only tell which company made the right moves at the right time with the most anticipated game titles and news for their fans.