This year's E3 wasn't about new consoles, snazzy new system updates or B-grade celebrities/athletes reciting their lines like uninspired DMV counter people, it was all about how Microsoft and Sony plan to waggle around Nintendo's Wii.

PSP Go!

Sony's newest member of the handheld club, PSP Go! was announced this week during E3 2009. Notably different looking, it embraces a new slide out panel (similar to Sony's Mylo internet device) that houses the devices analog controller, D-pad and button cluster. The new device also ditches the current PSP's UMD drive, replacing it with 16 GB of flash memory to store downloaded games, movies and videos from the PlayStation Store. Apart from those changes, the device shows few other differences from the current PSP. Both have Bluetooth, both have 801.11b WiFi (not the newer 802.11g or 802.11n). PSP fans were hoping for PS3 controller parity, which would allow for two analog buttons (although you can use it with a PS3 Controller), SIXAXIS motion control, OLED screen, a keyboard and possibly a camera. Coming to U.S. shores on October 1, 2009 for $249, it seems like a system refresh and less of an evolution.

Pros:
- No more UMD
- Nifty new slide out control panel
- Potentially better battery life (less moving parts)

Cons:
- Still no keyboard (limited search and web browsing)
- Same insides for the most part
- Can't use your UMD movie/game collection anymore
- Moving media to PSPgo requires another piece of Sony crapware
- Still no dual analog

Microsoft's Project Natal

Referring to it's camera project as a way to extend the longevity of the Xbox 360, Project Natal is being positioned as a major swipe against the Wii's motion controls. First, the new device houses a camera and an infrared camera that, when combined, have the ability to recognize people's faces and movements like your hands on a steering wheel. Microsoft showed off Natal with a hyperactive demoer and a game called Ricochet. Like Wii Sports Soccer, you can use your head to return balls that are lobbed against your in-game character but you also must use your hands and feel to win. The hope is that it will do amazing things like automatically log players into their Xbox Live accounts by recognizing faces and the company showed off a digital boy named Milo that can actually read and respond to your facial expressions.

Pros:
- Ricochet looks like a twist on Wii Sports Soccer combined with Twister and a case of Red Bull (you could lose weight)
- Might make menu navigations in Rock Band/Guitar Hero way easier
- Great way to get younger or older family and friends into the game faster

Cons:
- No official support for any games
- Milo didn't reply to our editor-in-chief's attempt at verbal humor, "What's up, chickenbutt!"
- Won't work with the current Xbox Live Vision
- No release date
- Lots of novelties in demo: quiz game buzzers, soccer kicks, skateboarding and even choosing clothes... but few solid apps
- Needs Skype

Sony's Motion Controller

The PlayStation Eye was the first camera on a console to capture players' motions and translating them into on-screen gameplay. PlayStation 3's Eye, the third generation of the technology received mild success but no killer application. So it's trying to create one. Announced this week, Sony's experimenting with the Eye, along with a new Motion Controller. A prototype, shown on stage this week, looks like a Wii Remote with a glowing orb on the end. The Eye, in turn, tracks the 3D motion of the orb as the user moves. To demonstrate, the device's creator Dr. Richard Marks and demoer Anton Mikaloff showed off how the device could be used for archery, sword fighting, hunting with a flashlight and even a gun for those hardcore games. With an amazing amount of accuracy and with the ability to use two at a time, it's got hit potential. Of course, with no release date and no official games, only time will tell.

Pros:
- Seems really accurate
- Appears that the development team created several demos (translation: faster for game makers to make new games that support it)
- Coming on October 13, 2009

Cons:
- No official game support
- Appears that you'd have to buy the PS3 Eye and the new motion controller to make it work
- Glowing orb looks like tacky nightclub gimmick.
- PS3 Eye's current apps run like tech demos with little outside support, might be the case for this too.

Activision's Tony Hawk Ride

RedOctane, best known as the creators of the first Guitar Hero peripherals, is ready to leap off the music stage, grind edges and ollie into a awaiting crowd. The board itself packs loads of tech into a little package. Two sensors at each tip of the board let players perform ollies and other jumps as two sensors on the sides detect foot motion and hand grabs. With a grippy deck and under belly, players will be less likely to launch the new wireless board accessory into a window (unless they're really good) and sensors in the board will also detect foot placement. While the buttons on the side of the deck aren't disclosed, we can't wait to take the new Hawk out for a ride.

Pros:
- Appears pretty durable
- Awesome way for non-gaming skateboarders to get into the game
- Nifty camera on the side detects foot motion (we expect hacks to make you go faster to become the next big thing)
- No helmet needed
- Ability to practice all the moves you normally mess up

Cons:
- Another hardware item to clutter your gaming space with
- Limited gaming use: Skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, wind surfing and, of course, beating down non-skateboarders
- $119.99 for board and game
- Probably not suited for grinding on the TV's edge
- Unsure if your normal board stickers will mess with the device's sensors

Wii Vitality Sensor

This year's biggest surprise for product announcement that's most like to both bore and snore gamers was Nintendo's Wii Vitality Sensor. While Nintendo's CEO wouldn't call it a regular old heart rate monitor, he talked about a product being developed that would help gamers work on relaxation and imagined a day when games might be used to help players improve their sleep. We're not joking.

Pros
- If you don't have a heart rate monitor, you might soon
- Non-gamers with a love of sleep might love this
- Might be able to monitor your heart during your game time (and other non-gaming activities)

Cons:
- No showing of software
- Nintendo seems to be stretching itself thin with lifestyle product that venture into The Sharper Image's obscure gadget catalog.
- Unlikely that you're achieve nirvana with your Wii

Wii MotionPlus

Yes, the Wii MotionPlus, a small sensor that adds more sensitivity to your Wii Remote is already available. Yes, the first big game to support it, Wii Sports Resport, won't release until July. Why didn't Nintendo merely add a better sensor into the original Wii Remote that just allowed seasoned player to increase its sensitivity? No one knows. But for $20 or a purchaser of Wii Sports Resort, Grand Slam Tennis or Tiger Woods 10 will also come with the device. Sadly, Nintendo showed the device more than it showed games that supported it. You do the math.

Pros:
- Should make some new games harder
- Makes your Wii bigger

Cons:
- First big game that supports it won't arrive until July
- Old games won't benefit from it, no way to patch them to do so
- Feels like Nintendo should have just added the technology to all Wii Remotes, not tack it on later and charge for it.