The Biggest Gaming Convention Of The Year, E3! (And Other Gaming News You Should Be Aware Of)

Anyone who is anyone that loves video games knows about 2 things for sure: the ongoing console wars, and the upcoming E3 event. E3 is where all of the magic is going to happen. Think of it as a "pre-Christmas" for gaming nerds like myself. June 10-12 will be a madhouse of video games, gaming companies, gaming tech, cosplayers, and more all at the Los Angeles Convention Center in LA, California. I can only imagine how many new, and unannounced games that will be brought into the light. As a huge gamer myself, I'm way too excited to see what all is going to go down at this year's event. There is bound to be another extensive look at the PS4 and Xbox One. After all, this will be the first E3 event since both of the new platforms have dropped. We should expect all eyes to be on these two powerhouses.

The press conferences will basically tell us what we can expect in terms of the console wars. At least, in my eyes they will. You have to figure, it's always a business competition correct? Well naturally, each one of the three competitors (Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo) will be painting themselves in the best light. Notice I've not talked much about Nintendo or the Wii U. Don't get me wrong, I love Nintendo, and have loved them since I was playing "Super Mario" on the Super Nintendo back in the day. All nostalgia aside however, that doesn't negate the fact that Nintendo's sales and business performance have been less than extraordinary in comparison to both Sony's and Microsoft's systems. As much as some of us may hate, love, or find the Wii U strictly used for a light-hearted/family oriented gamer(s), as long as there are "Legend of Zelda" and "Mario" games out, Nintendo is going to be alive.

If you've been keeping up with the 2 "hardcore" systems/gaming giants, then I'm sure you're aware of the exclusive titles that are to be coming out. Where there are exclusive titles however, there are a laundry list's worth more multi-platform titles. Expect one of the top talked about games to be Bungie's new "Destiny" game. This one I'm very excited for just for how much hype it's getting due to the developers being the same people who who created the massive "Halo" franchise that essentially put the Xbox on the map. I feel that the new game "Watch Dogs" will be talked about quite a bit as well simply because of it's release date being so close to the E3 date.

"Watch Dogs" has been being hyped up now for quite a while. It's incredibly immersive open-world set in Chicago, IL is looked at to be the most dynamic open-world created in any game to date. The graphics look incredible so far. The gameplay looks amazing. It really looks to be an incredible game.

Other games such as the new "Uncharted" and "Titan Fall" will definitely be getting talked about as well. If nothing else, the press conferences will give us more fuel to fight with in terms of our favorite consoles. I'm definitely a Sony fanboy, is I'm rooting for Sony's press conference to make the biggest splash this year. Having said that, I know that Microsoft's Xbox fanbase normally outshines Sony's by a bit of a margin, so I wouldn't be shocked if Microsoft came out of the gates swinging.

Sony's PS4 is still ahead of the Xbox One in terms of sales, which is a big step for Sony, but that doesn't mean that Microsoft is down for the count. Nintendo also has the opportunity to catch everyone off guard. This year's E3 Conference could be anyone's game still, and I'm more than excited to see what we have to look forward to in the future.

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Mario Kart 8 Coming For The Wii U

Everyone who is currently alive has probably played Mario Kart at some point in time. For lots of us, it is a real part of our childhood that we still enjoy. It had become an iconic party game, and has a fan base that is pretty much just as big as any other Mario game. Next month, the saga continues with Mario Kart 8 coming out for the Wii U, and there are a few things about it that have the internet going crazy.

Nintendo put out a few trailers for the new Mario Kart game, and people were already going nuts. The nostalgia was almost too much to handle for pretty much everyone between the ages of 20-40. What really got people going though, was the last trailer that Nintendo put out. This trailer showed some of the most famous Mario Kart tracks ever coming back for this new installment of the game.

Pretty much every track from the N64 days of Mario Kart have been revamped and re worked for the Wii U. Yes, this includes Toad's Turnpike and Rainbow Road. And they all look more stunning than ever.

These old tracks will be available as a part of a 32 track package, and the package also comes with new items and abilities. Some of the new abilities let you parachute over you enemies or use a Piranha Plant on the front of your vehicle.

Now that we have talked about all of the super cool stuff and got the 12 year old inside all of us going insane, it's time to get back to reality.

It is pretty neat that Nintendo is blending old stuff with new stuff, especially in this game. But, it's got me "face-palming" like crazy because that's the only thing that Nintendo ever does. It's no secret that Nintendo is in trouble and it's also not a secret that they think Mario Kart 8 may be something that could help dig them out of a hole. However, I see this as... digging the hole deeper. Although I am excited for the new Mario Kart, it's because I like Mario Kart, but I already have Mario Kart. So I guess once I get past the excitement, its really more of a bummer than anything.

Nintendo knows that the reason they aren't on top anymore is because they don't know how to do anything besides live in the past. I can't seem to figure out why the answer to the problem is putting out Mario Kart 64 with new graphics. But either way, I'll take it. I suppose I can't pretend like I'm not excited to play it.

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New Super Mario Bros. Wii

It's been eighteen long years since Super Mario World was released for Super Nintendo and believe it or not, that was the last Mario side-scrolling game released for a home console. After that, along came the 3D Mario 64 and it seemed as though the old games were a thing of the past. Fortunately, the wait is over. Nintendo has brought back every bit of nostalgia from the old Super Mario Bros and combined it with exciting new features that make Super Mario Bros for Wii one of the most anticipated games of the year.

One reviewer called it a "greatest hits" album of games, because the final product is a combination of many previous Mario Bros. games. It is also said to be much like the New Super Mario Bros. that was released in 2006 for the Nintendo DS.

It follows the basic story of the old Super Mario Bros. World game. Peach is kidnapped, Mario and Luigi must save her while fighting Koopa Kids, Fire Chomps, Shy Guys, and Goombas along the way, as well as some new enemies such as giant caterpillars and flying monsters. But one major difference is that you can play the game with four players on screen at once, sort of like Mario Kart or Smash Bros. That said, a number of reviewers have said it falls flat as a single-player game.

The 3-D graphics (on the 2-D game) and the ability to zoom the camera in and out so that players can play different parts of the same level are pretty nice additions. While the multi-player aspect can be tons of fun, it can also be tons of chaos. Another player can knock you into a bottomless pit or accidentally kick a turtle shell at you, unexpectedly. You can play with or against your friends. A cooperative mode allows you to work together to pass levels, while a competitive mode (Coin Battle) has each person working to find as many coins as possible.

In cooperative mode, when a player dies, he floats back to life in a bubble and his fellow players must pop it to release him. If everybody is dead, no one can pop the bubble and the level fails. And since it's aimed more at being a multi-player game, levels are more open and linear than previous Mario Bros games so that each player can find their own personal space.

The game is also said to be fairly difficult. This should be great news for old-school gamers who were looking for a new challenge where Super Mario World left off, but not such great news for the casual gamers who are just looking to waste a little time. However, once a level is failed several times, a Super Guide appears and plays the level for you, allowing you to move on to the next one.

Sing-player mode can be fun, but it's nothing like Super Mario World or other games from the past. The game also requires motion at some points, which means using the Wiimote on its side. Something a number of reviewers say makes the game slightly uncomfortable and adds nothing to the overall experience.

All in all, it seems to be a fun game to play with friends but if you're wanting to spend hours alone, unwinding with a challenging game, this may not be what you're looking for. Either way, this $50 game is sure to find its way under many Christmas trees this year, as gamers look to appreciate that nostalgia that is the 2D Super Mario Bros. franchise.