After announcing and showcasing the prototype for their next-gen system at last E3, Nintendo had a lot to prove this year, in order to generate hype before the holiday season.
Once the briefing was over, the response from gamers is universally “meh”.
The briefing started off with a video of Shigeru Miyamoto, relaxing in his green room, surrounded by his beloved Pikmin. He walked on stage to find even more Pikmin in the audience (via superimposed video). Using his whistle from the same game, he called onto stage Bill Trien, head of product marketing, to help translate.
Right off the bat, we start with a great game announcement (if it wasn’t apparent enough), Pikmin 3. During the demo, Miyamoto stated that he knew he definitely wanted to work on this game once the system’s specs were finalized. The updated graphics and HD resolution allowed for him to pull the camera back so the player can see more of their surroundings. Using the touch screen on the controller, players can control multiple teams to achieve goals throughout the game. The short presentation was a good way to demonstrate some of the new features found in the Wii U system.
President and CEO Jack Tretton took to the stage to kick off the Sony E3 Press Briefing. Tretton explains that this year’s conference will be focused at the “true heroes of the gaming industry, the gamers”. He took a moment to recognize one of the biggest leaders of Sony’s entertainment division, Kaz Hirai, who’s sitting in the front row.
First developer up is the one I was personally waiting for, Quantic Dream (developer of Heavy Rain). Beyond features a girl called Jodie, who will actually be played by actress Ellen Page (Juno, Inception). That means not only her vocal talents, but her image as well. (It also might explain the sudden Last of Us character change.) The game is about finding out what lies beyond life. Beyond everyday human existence.
The video below is one of the first scenes from the upcoming game. Quantic Dream’s games have always pushed the boundaries of realism, and they once again took it to a higher level than any other developer has ever reached.
You can read the full recap of Sony’s press briefing after the break.
Ubisoft’s press conference started off with something I was hoping we would have gone a year without… a dance number. So the best way to promote Just Dance 4 is Flo Rida accompanied by several dancers (who didn’t seem all that interested in what they were doing) with a commercial of the game playing in the back….
After a brief intro by emcee Aisha Tyler, Ubisoft jumps right into Far Cry 3. The trailer starts off with….a topless woman. I’m sure that this overly sexual intro, alongside the overabundance of cursing and drugs, will entice all the 13yr old boys who are watching to think that this game is “hardcore”. The graphics are gorgeous (as one expects from this series) and the contextual actions when close-up to enemies are sweet. I was hoping for a live demo, but it was only a trailer.
You can read the full recap of Ubisoft’s E3 briefing after the break.
EA’s E3 press briefing started off with a bang. A very loud bang known as Dead Space 3. Visceral Games was on hand to demo the new co-op feature. The environments are spectacular and the action is chaotic, to say the least.
Dead Space 3 is scheduled for release February 2013.
You can read the full recap plus watch the entire press event after the break.
Microsoft kicked off E3 with the first of the big 3′s press conferences.
The presentation started with a live-action cinematic aboard the UNSC Infinity as it’s crashing towards Master Cheif. Yes, it’s the first public in-game demo of 343 Studio’s Halo 4. Showing off some lush environments, new weapons and new enemies. As the demo comes to a close, you watch a brief montage of Cortana’s history, and then she gets REALLY angry.
Halo 4 is due out November 6th, 2012.
You can read the full recap of Microsoft’s E3 press briefing after the break.
Nintendo just finished broadcasting a pre-recorded video to kick off their E3 programming. President Satoru Iwata gave viewers an overview at the new controllers, plus a glimpse at some of the Wii U’s social aspects.
First off, the now-officially-called “Wii U GamePad” has changed a bit since its E3 2011 appearance. While the majority of the prototype controller’s style was kept, Nintendo swapped out the PSP-like slide sticks for actual thumb sticks that offer more accurate control. They also can be depressed to act as an additional button. The thumb sticks have been placed closer to the edge and adjusted the contours to maximize comfort. A “TV” button was added at the bottom, allowing for basic control over your TV’s functions. Finally, a NFC reader/writer was added for future use with game cards and other accessories. Interesting concept, but I wonder how much it will actually be utilized outside of the trading card games.
Iwata repeated a few of the controller’s functions that were announced last year; such as the ability to use the GamePad separate from the TV, an internet browser, and the ability to “push” videos from the GamePad to your TV.
Read on for the full recap plus a link to the full presentation.
It was a bit odd that Konami decided to host their streaming press event at 10:30pm PST days before E3, but since they were still in Japan at the time, we can let it slide.
The publisher kicked things off by touting the progress they’ve made in the mobile and social space with a new studio based in San Francisco. (Just how many versions of Frogger can one studio make?)
Moving on to things gamers will likely care a bit more deeply about, Konami is going all out for this year to battle FIFA with Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) 2013. They’ve made great strides in player modeling, trying to capture the essence of how the actual athletes run, dribble and pass. The video shows how they’ve taken football star Cristiano Ronaldo’s unique gait and translated that into PES 2013. Players will have better control with the new deft touch dribbling, giving more options in close quarters for navigating around defenders. Plus, the new passing options allow for a range of speeds in order to get the ball where you want it, when you need it. Konami is interweaving a social network app throughout the game, in order to keep players connected even when they’re not in-game.
Next up, fan favorite Zone of the Enders is getting a facelift for a new HD Collection, compiling both home console games for PS3 and Xbox 360. This collection will include both games with enhanced visuals and the same fast, frenetic gameplay. Konami has commissioned anime studio Sunrise to produce a new introduction for the first game. As a bonus, the HD collection will include an early demo for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.
Speaking of Metal Gear, Konami released a little bit more about the upcoming game’s story, which takes place nine years after the events of Metal Gear Solid 4. Developer Platinum Games is promising an action game like none other, and if the incredibly violent, blood-filled trailer is any indication, they will deliver. The graphics are solid, and the sword-play is insanely destructive, with a level of control I didn’t think possible for this generation of titles.
Before closing out the show, Konami gave viewers their first look at Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 and a hint that a 3DS game (rumored to be called Mirror of Fate) will be on the show floor. If you haven’t played (or been spoiled on) Lords of Shadow, the video might not make quite as much sense. Still, even if you don’t know who is featured, it’s a pretty cool (rendered) clip. Here’s hoping that we get some more info on the Belmonts next adventure(s) soon.
You can watch the full presentation below for yourself.
