PSP

My first year of E3 had a slow start. Not knowing how early I should get there to pick up my press pass, I found myself in the L.A. Convention Center at 8 o'clock. The process of getting my badge took three minutes at the most, so I had about four hours to kill before the main show floors were open to the media.

So, I went to E3 2011 Day One today! I am just a person. Here is what there is to report.

The biggest reveal for me so far has been Sony's price tag of $250 for the PS Vita, formerly known as the NGP, also known as the PSP2. That's an incredible price for such a snazzy piece of technology. Apparently Sony has learned from the pricing mistakes it made earlier this generation.

Looking at the calendar, we're less than two weeks away from what will be one of the most important E3 events in recent memory when it comes to what I call the Hardware Trinity—that is Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. Each of the three companies have issues to address. Nintendo is facing lackluster 3DS hardware sales and the lame-duck status of the Wii until its new platform is launched. Sony has to deal with the aftereffects of one of the largest online security breaches in history and major losses in the last year. Microsoft may seem bulletproof, but the stagnant nature of the Kinect sensor and a slow trickle of software for it call into question the viability of the technology.

Familiarity Breeds Contempt

HIGH Configuring my Orbment to get access to a powerful area-effect spell in the first chapter of the game.

LOW At least half of the game's playtime is spent with only two party members of a potential four.

WTF The budding relationship between Estelle and her adopted brother Joshua is weird enough, but was it necessary for nearly every NPC to peer-pressure them into it?

So a while ago I gave up on my dream of completely finishing Monster Hunter Freedom Unite since the upper-rank missions are clearly designed for team play, and I've been unable to find a group of people to quest with. However, my good friend @SilentHitoshura recently got into the game in a big way and I've also made contact with a few other folks who were interested in getting a group going.

Square Enix is Out Hunting Monsters

HIGH The Lock-on System, a simple yet essential addition to the genre.

LOW Environments really aren't all that inspiring.

WTF No Infrastructure mode, seriously?

The Greatest Enemy Lies Within Your PSP

HIGH Blowing up Twisted with an orbital laser satellite.

LOW Spending five minutes waiting for a soldier to appear with the only weapon that can hurt a monster —only to watch him immediately die before you can swap to him.

WTF The entire story.

Recent economic trends—notably rapid increases in fuel prices and associated price hikes in the general cost of living—should be something that the console video game industry starts taking seriously. Everything is getting more expensive at a most inopportune time for the domestic economy, and with the decline of disposable income, it's only a matter of time before pain is once again felt by the console gaming industry.

I haven't had a ton of time to play games lately, but what little time I have has been spent with the new Mortal Kombat. After the long, unbroken string of utterly craptastic sequels put forth by the series, it's extremely gratifying to see the franchise finally get its act together and reboot itself into respectability.