aside from the unveiling of Nintendo 3DS, there were no mention of next-gen hardware from the Big Three. In E32000, Nintendo announced Project Dolphin; Microsoft had X-Box. E32005, it was Nintendo Revolution, X360, and PS3.. but E32010? nothing, not even a teaser or at least a codename that would get the collective bunch talking until the next E3 show.

so what's going on? for as long as i remembered since the NES or perhaps even before that, there was always new hardware on the horizon every 3 to 4 years. back then there were alot more hardware companies trying to put out systems. there was Atari, Nintendo, Sega, NEC, SNK, Panasonic, Sony etc. Now, it has trickled down to three. Even so, the 5 year cycle has always been the general rule of when to expect next-gen hardware, that is until E32010.

Remember how quickly the X360 was announced when the original XBOX was on the shelf just over three years? The XBOX360 is approaching its fifth year already. You would have thought Microsoft would get the ball rolling. Nintendo and Sony don't have to reveal much of anything at this point since their machines came out a year later, but you would think they would have mentioned some interesting tidbits by now.

on the portable front, it seems almost puzzling Sony made no mention about the oft-rumored PSP2 which leads me to believe that if they don't announce anything by Tokyo Game Show...then its going to be too late for Sony. The 3DS will probably have sold ten million units by the time PSP2 arrives.

on the other hand, i'm glad i don't have to worry about new hardware. as all the gaming companies have shown, we simply don't need one right now. i get the feeling the next home video game system won't be out until 2012 or even, 2013 when Sony and Microsoft ride on the motion trend until Nintendo makes its next 'move'. this year it was all about the games and that's why E32010 mattered.