Wednesday, July 16th, 2008...3:25 am
E3 2008: Wednesday, July 16th 2008.
Morning guys and gals,
Edie’s gone over most of Sony’s stuff already, and we discussed Nintendo’s (snorefest? smugfest? take your pick) Press conference on last nights show.
So I’ll just focus on what we DIDN’T cover:
The mystery and the drama - Microsoft and Bungie
Something weird happened last night. At around 7pm (PST it appears) Bungie updated their countdown page with a note saying that the game reveal they had been hinting at, was not going to happen.
Harold Ryan, President of Bungie apologized and said the publisher had decided against a reveal at this time.
Luke Smith, a man who is never known to mince words, went further, stating on NeoGAF that the publish was Microsoft.
So what’s happened? Sam Kennedy of 1UP suggests it may be that Microsoft didn’t want to overshadow “Gears of War 2″ with “Halo”, which is possible, but for some reason hard for me to swallow.
No one wants their game overshadowed by a monolith, which is, arguably, what “Halo” is to the Xbox 360, but this couldn’t have been figured out and communicated to Bungie long before they put up the countdown?
Perhaps it’s as simple as that, a part of me hopes it is because if it is more, then this is the first wedge driven between Microsoft and Bungie. The “Halo” IP belongs to Microsoft, but Bungie IS “Halo” in the minds of it’s fans.
It’s also quite possible that it’s Bungie’s own indepdence that caused this, perhaps in thier enthusiasm they never bothered to confirm whether or not this game would be announced when they said.
In the end, we’ll probably never know. I’m sure tomorrow will come and Bungie and Microsoft will be all smiles and chummy, but I feel like I just watched my parents have a subtle, yet nasty fight.
This drama is probably done for now, but the consequences haven’t been felt yet. Mark my words on that.
Now Ubi’s presser wasn’t big or fancy, but they showed off what they got. “Rayman”, “EndWar” (Coming October 14th!!!) “Far Cry 2″, UbiPetz (I’m just going to let that one sit) “Shaun White Snowboarding”, “Prince of Persia” (which is looking quite fun) And finally “I Am Alive”.
I Am Alive takes place in an earthquake destroyed Chicago, where you play Adam (in search of Eve?) trying to survive inside the city where people fight others for resources. That’s all that’s known, and the trailer didn’t give anything really new away, CGI as well, so it’s hard to judge.
God of War III is announced, but that’s about all we’re hearing from Kratos
Not much more to add. So far the only real question I have is: Whose working on it? David Jaffe is gone, as is Cory Barlog.
It’s a ways off it seems, at least 2009.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is coming to Wii, and looks fun.
This pick-up and play fighting game will essentially let you play through the most memorable duels of the TV show and movie. The fighting looks pretty elementary, simply swing the Wii-mote left and right, up and down and stab to pull off light, medium and heavy attacks with your lightsaber onscreen. The characters each have Force powers and will be able to interact with the environment, though we didn’t see this in action in the demo. Those looking for a more complex fighting experience can learn special combos that will unleash more powerful attacks and put opponents at a disadvantage.
Saber locks, a hallmark of all Star Wars movies, will also trigger mini-games and players will have to win them to overpower the other player. Environments include Rancor pits, and locations on Tatooine and Teth also contain environmental hazards, so you can strategically shove your enemy into an electrical conduit for an electric shock. As you progress through a level, the environment will start to change (or tilt in this case) and make the battle more challenging.
That sounds very nice, but I still don’t want to pick up a Wii.
Newest Grand Theft Auto is coming.. to the DS?!?!?
Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), is proud to announce Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. Developed by Rockstar Leeds in conjunction with series creators Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will be available on the Nintendo DS” in North America and Europe this winter.
“This is a game that will deliver a rich, fast-paced and intense ‘Grand Theft Auto’ experience that will be truly unique to Nintendo’s handheld platform,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “Rockstar Leeds, along with the team at Rockstar North, has built upon a decade of progressive design on Grand Theft Auto, and has created something fundamentally fresh and immersive.”
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is an entirely original entry into the critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto series, and brings a new level of interactivity to its sprawling open environments. With the use of the DS touch screen, players will navigate their way through the streets as they uncover the truth behind an epic tale of crime and corruption within the Triad crime syndicate, delivering the unprecedented amount of depth that has become a true trademark of the franchise.
Soo.. to slash a guys throat do I slice with the stylus? Cause that could be both icky and cool. Jack Thompson’s getting major wood over this one. Oh wait, that’s right, poor guy got neutered. Ha-ha!! I mean.. poor guy.
DEAD RISING!! For the Wii?? The world is just not what it was…
And you thought all the crazy shit was happening in LA. The latest issue of Famitsu brings word of a new Dead Rising game. But it’s not a spin-off, per se, nor is it the probably-Vegas-bound Dead Rising 2, it’s…a Wii version. And a direct (well, as good as they can get it) port of the 360 original to boot. With zombie-wrestling waggle and everything. Before you ask why, ask yourself why not. It worked for Res 4, you can’t blame Capcom for trying!
I can’t.. I just.. can’t. I’ve a rant worked up for another time, (Some of it spilled out last night during discussion of the Wii.)
Moving on.
The velvet tones of Keifer Sutherland, will guide you through Call of Duty: World at War.
Activision’s not-E3 presser was surprisingly mundane, considering they’re North America’s #1 publisher and all. One thing stands out for fans of 24 and Lost Boys the world over, however: it was announced by Treyarch that Kiefer Sutherland will be on voice-actor duties for the upcoming Call Of Duty: World At War. No specifics on which role, but if you presume he’ll be a gruff-voiced American soldier and work from there, you should be OK.
Mr. Sutherland has that type of voice that’s all calm and soothing one moment, and downright terrifying the next.
Perfect for a World War II game.
That’s about it for now. Check back during the day, I’ll update as much as possible.
Hawkes
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