E3 is almost on top of us. We previewed some of what we think will be there last week. Today, we’d like to look at some of the bat shit loco insane rumours that are doing the rounds. Wait a few days and we’ll see if its wrong or not. Hardware tweaks and updates, fanboy expectations rising and hype machines running amok destroying entire communities.
Rumour 1: PSP Go. A PSP with no UMD drive with a sliding screen like an LG cel phone (so that the gaming controls are hidden when watching a movie, for instance). Sony aren’t giving up on their handheld designs. It could be a very interesting device (I’d like one). Various spy shots are around the web so we think this one if fairly certain.
Rumour 2: Microsoft Zune that plays games. The Zune HD was just announced so take this one with a grain of salt.
Rumour 3: New colours for the Wii. Well, the hardware numbers for Wii have finally started to slow down so here come the alternate hues. This one is a goer
Rumour 4: PS3 Slim. Maybe. The spyshots are pretty dodgy but its the sort of thing Sony needs.
Rumour 5: Hideo Kojima’s new game. Probably Metal Gear related. Probably a PS3 only title. Almost certainly pretentious as a Frenchman at a Philosophers’ convention.
Rumour 6: Metal Gear 360. maybe.
Rumour 7: Cheaper MS peripherals for 360 (HDD and controllers). Would be interesting.
Rumour 8: Epic making a PS3 Exclusive title. Sure, why not?
Rumour 9: A new Wiifit. Sure Nintendo loves money and hates gamers.
Rumour 10: Valve showing off something. Current Rumour is Left 4 Dead 2 but it could be anything- Half Life 2 Episode Three (making a mockery of the episodic release concept), TF2 expansions, Portal 2. Anything.
What we aren’t likely to see at E3:
An Xbox 360 slim
Free Xbox Live Gold
A Wii game worth playing
A console port of a Valve multiplayer game that’s any good.
PS3 with 4 USB ports and Backwards compatibility
Apple home console
Ngage press conference that doesn’t get big laughs
After a few relatively game-lite weeks- I’m playing a bit more regularly. I’m off on a vacation in a fortnight’s time (the site will still have updates) but in the meantime I’ve had some fun with a few titles.
The Club, subject of a recent focus test, is a silly score-attack shooter. Take PGR and Tony Hawk and make it about shooting and you have The Club. If you’re not a score attack junkie, you might find there’s not much for you since multiplayer doesn’t have a thriving community and the single player is a few hours at best. Its a repetitive title to be sure, but once you start playing, you’re there for longer than you’d expect. It’s not ugly, but there are much prettier games on the market. Its also being referenced left right and centre “oh, its like The Club.” Hey, great, you used a commercial flop as the basis for your big title. Its like how those in the know reference Kill/Switch as the game that Gears got much of the stop and pop actions from. I recommend renting this for giggles, or buying it outstandingly cheap (which should not be hard)
Of course, the big game in this post is the PS3 exclusive title inFamous, from Sucker Punch, makers of Sly Cooper games. Some say InFamous is just Sly 3 with a new skin. I can’t say that for sure since, although I own Sly 3, I haven’t played it for more than 30 minutes. InFamous has a far grittier aesthetic but you can see a lot of Sly Cooper in this game. Apart from Sly Cooper himself.
It also channels the ghost of Crackdown. A few days after this post goes live, we may have some news of Crackdown 2. My sources assure me its in the works. My sources also assure me that you can’t catch Swine Flu from a toilet seat unless an afflicted piglet used it previously. If you liked Crackdown, you should also have a ball with this game. I like Crackdown, and from I’ve played of the demo, this is a fun substitute. Our next Focus Test podcast features this game so give it a listen (links at the right of the page).
There’s climbing up buildings, jumping, popping a zap in the asses of the baddies. Its got it all. And ANGST! Games need more whiny bitches as the protagonist. Of course, I can’t play the full game for three more weeks since it doesn’t get released here before I go away for my break. The zinger is, this game comes out at the exact same time as a another similar game, Prototype.
Prototype is a multiplatform gamer from Radical, the makers of Hulk games and before that, some Simpsons games a few years back. They know their open-world blow shit up routine. Prototype is a gorier version of the Hulk game from all accounts. Its the release of Infamous and Prototype that has clogged the net with Prototype verse Infamous blogs. “Which is better? Which should I play first?” I don’t really have any interest in Prototype just at the moment so we shall see what it is like once its released.
I had decided earlier in the year that I would like to replay the single player campaigns of the Call of Duty games. Apparently the original game is being released as a downloadable title soon and if it does, I could have all 5 games on my 360. Which would be nice. I’ve been replaying the most recent, World at War, in single player mode. My first run through was on PC and this time, its on 360. I think WaW get’s trashed a bit too much for not being made by Infinity Ward, but I found it a highly enjoyable game in its own right. CoD4 is still better but the differences are enough to make it feel like a different game, and close enough to keep the CoD4 whore in me smiling.
We have a bunch of blockbuster movies over the next few months but once again some of the biggies are missing that all-important game tie in. Wolverine had a tie-in with more gore than the movie whereas Watchmen has a tie-in with less dong. Star Trek was an even bigger hit but only spawned Star Trek DAC on iPhone and XBLA. What gives, baby?
Let’s have a look at the biggies still to come.
Terminator Salvation. While its a safe bet McG’s terminator film is not going to be the greatest cinematic experience, you can bet GRIN’s game version will do good business before becoming a perennial bargain bin sweller. Just like their Wanted game. Terminator as a franchise has had more than a few videogame adaptations (I recall playing a decent T2 game on the Gameboy back in the day) but few have been very advanced so expectations aren’t the greatest.
Night at the Museum 2. This means Paul Blart will get a sequel and a game version. Oh Christ. There’s something to be said for a big budget version of Indian in the Cupboard but there’s nothing to be said for the sequel, nor its game.
Land of the Lost. There’s no game tie in. Where’s my Wil Ferrel alike in poorly animated cutscenes?
Transformers 2: …
Ice Age 3: So, hell has frozen over and there’s a third Ice Age movie courtesy of Activision, who seem to love having these games on their books. Brutal Legend and Ghostbusters no, but Ice Age 3, yes. People tell me the Ice Age movies aren’t bad but that’s like saying speed bumps aren’t bad. That doesn’t automatically mean good.
Harry Potter: When you look at it, this may well be EA’s last big movie licenses since they let go of Bond. It prints money despite the fact if you wait 2 months you’ll get it for half price. If you needed to. Of course, the Wii version already has a controller that looks like a wand or maybe there’s a broomstick with a space to clip on your wiimote and clench it bewteen your thighs while you play pretend Quidditch.
GI JOE: Well, EA obviously hasn’t completely gotten out of the biz of these tie in games since here’s a GI Joe game. Why GI Joe? Did I miss the memo that GI Joe was any good? I was a sorta fan in my youth for GI Joe but this film version- where every fucka wears Black. Jesus- Snake Eyes was always the guy in Black but now so is Scarlet and Duke, Hawk, Clutch Flash and whoever else. No colour left at all. Does this mean they’re reusing the Madworld engine?
But there’s no Inglourious Basterds game. A Tarantino flick is guaranteed to have more violence than nerds who don’t shower attending Blizzcon. Tarantino’s already had one poor game based on any of his movies (unless there’s a Jackie Brown RTS I’m unaware of), so there’s no real reason we could get a decent Kill Bill Part 2 game. There’s no reason we couldn’t get a decent Kill Bill Part 2 movie, but that’s a different story.
Nearly 10 years ago, Sega released one of their last great original franchises. Along with Crazy Taxi and Space Channel 5, Jet Set Radio was one of the games on which Sega had pinned their hopes, only to see them crushed like thick pile carpet at a Weight Watchers meeting.
The premise of the game was you were part of a gang of hip kids who roller blade around a stylised version of Tokyoto (that’s what its called in the game) and paint tags on the walls in certain spots. You have two enemies to deal with- a timer and the Law!
With its colourful graphics and early cel shaded models, JSR was hipper than than a well-dressed hippopotamus at the Hippodrome. But it also had one of the coolest soundtracks ever unleashed on the videogaming publish. The late 90′s Japanese electronica perfectly compliments the overall sense of style the game exudes. Its still one of the best game soundtracks of all time.
The game itself, to me, was really a platformer in a set of funky threads. When you found a wall marked to be taggable, the onscreen prompts would direct you to rotate the analogue sticks to mimic the motion (though vastly simplified) of spray painting. The whole thing comes together in a way missing from so many modern cool, hip games
For some reason this game was retitled Jet Grind Radio for its US release but there were also a few extra levels added and Rod Zombie music (why?). The sequel was an original Xbox launch title and removed the timer at the same time as enlarging the levels markedly and tagging was reduced to just pressing a button in the right place. It’s not as good as the original so the DC game is the one to play. A sequel has been rumoured as has an iPhone port but either way you need this game in your collection if you have a Dreamcast.
As E3 approaches, Controller1.com would like to paint you a picture. E3 is going back to its roots as a big bombastic show with loud music parties, booth babes and swag. But you don’t have to wait until June to know the score. C1.com would like to tell you about what you probably already know.
Now some of these games may not make it as a 2009 release, but they are likely to be released before E3 2010.
The Playstation Three 3 tripple 3.o will be receiving Uncharted 2: Honor Amongst Thieves as one of its big games as well as the cryptically named Massive Action Game. We may also be seeing another Ratchet and Clank game, something that’s always welcome in this new online reality we call the year 2009. There’s no driving game announced so let’s assume Gran Turismo 5 is finally coming out. A motion controller of some description, one that had 391 axes including up, down, left and right and time, may also be on the cards as may a break-apart controller. Sony will likely not talk about how the PS2 is carrying their company but will mention all the things you can do with a PS3 apart from games. They may also announce a PSP Go- a PSP that is not present-compatible with any PSP games you may already own on UMD.
Speaking of breaking, The 360 looks to have Forza 3, Halo ODSAT&T and maybe even that saucy minx Alan Wake up its sleeve. Fluid, a rumoured motion controller for 360 or the camera-based controller that has also been the subject of gossip could be unveiled. Corporate executives and new control schemes make for goofy conferences. Crackdown 2 is a strong possibility, even if its only a tease. Wouldn’t it be ironic if Halo LMNOPQRSTUV had the Crackdown 2 beta?
Our friends Nintendo will have to show something other than what’s already released. Wii Fit is huge. Wii play is huge and Wii Sports is ubiquitous. Motion plus is almost here and the microphone was about as welcome as a 78 digit friend code at a slumber party. Despite the fact that the DSi has been released to great sales and games from 2005/2006 such as Mario Kart DS and All New Super Mario Brothers are still in the top 10 NPD figures, Nintendo will need to unveil something other than Zelda on a train for the DS.
Third parties are great parties to attend. But you get stuck with the bill.
Activision are going show Tony Hawk’s arthRITIC Ride. It uses its own controller that lools like an arc mouse turned upside down. They will also have Modern Warfare 2 (pssst- don’t call it Call of Duty 6. I did once but I think I got away with it) which will have thousands of perks, noobtubes and frustrated shouts of ‘Bullshit!’ to entertain us all for the next two years.
Activision will also have wave after wave of Guitar Hero products flung at us. Guitar Hero for kids (Band Hero), DJ Hero, Guitar Hero 5 are just the beginning. There might even be some Wolfenstein action if we’re lucky. Could we see a big WoW announcement (like an ex pack for next year)?
EA will obviously have more Maddens and Tiger Woods games and obviously a fair few Wii sports games. We’re likely to see more of Army of Two 2 and the 5 dozen Battlefield games they have in the works: Heroes, 1942 and B:BC2. There will likely be some Maxis action for Sims 3 and something to do with Spore. Harry Potter? Medal of Honor? Syndicate? Who knows. Burnout and Need for Speed? I think there will be some sort of Need for Speed showing- especially since they’ve already announced forty versions of NFS. But its been a while since Burnout Paradise was released. Sure the game is a ‘platform’ but how long does it stay that way? There will likley be Rock Band offshoots like RB Pearl Jam and the Beatles, a little known Liverpool pop combo from the 60′s.
Ubisoft has been quiet of late. We think there will be an Assassin’s Creed 2 showing. We may see some TOM CLANCY’S tm Splinter Cell Conviction showing and I’d lay odds about hearing about a new TOM CLANCY’S tm Ghost recon title. Whether its TOM CLANCY’S tm GR3 or TOM CLANCY’S tm GRAW3, we’ll have to wait and see. There’s an outside chance we’ll hear about a a TOM CLANCY’S tm Rainbow 6 title since there’s not been a lot said about that in a while. Depending on whether they did well enough for Ubi, maybe TOM CLANCY’S tm Endwar 2 and TOM CLANCY’S tm HAWX 2. If we’re good boys and girls, we may get a TOM CLANCY’S tm I am Alive trailer and a look at TOM CLANCY’S tm Beyond Good and Evil 2.
Take 2 may or may not choose to show some more of Mafia 2 and Red Dead Revolver Redemption since they’re close to being released and we may at the very least hear when the next GTA DLC is coming out. I expect more about Bioshock 2. Some have said a new GTA reveal is possible but I’m guessing it would be more than a year away from release at any rate.
Capcom will likely show re-releases and remakes of any game it hasn’t already done 15 times as well re-releases, remixes, re-runs and re-hashes of ones it has already done five times previously. So take a franchise they’ve ever released and slap one of the following words on the end: redux, remix, retread, turbo, alpha, ex, chop till you drop, et al. There will be Dark Void, Lost Planet 2 and Dead Rising 2. We might also see Resident Evil add-ons, SFIV add-ons and Wii ports of PSone games. Devil May Cry 5?
Konami have been teasing with something that many people who won’t stump for a PS3 have been wishing for- Metal Gear Solid 4 for the Xbox 360. Having played MGS2 on the original Xbox, I wouldn’t get my hopes up for anything great in terms of a good port. Any Castlevania or Silent Hill announcements will make fans of either series wet their pants or shit their pants.
Sega will no doubt having something cooking. Unfortunately, It’s likely to be a crappy Sonic game where rather than than have a 2D game where Sonic runs really fast, we’ll have a shithouse 3D game where he runs really fast off the edge of cliffs for 10% of the game followed by 90% of Sonic turning into a monk. Jet Set Radio would redeem them. So would a new Crazy Taxi. Instead, we’ll probably get Mario and Sonic at Levi Rosenberg’s Bar Mitzvah. There’s always Bayonetta but whenever they go on about how the protagonist’s costume is really just overgrown pubic hair, I think I’ll pass.
Square Enix will be there.
How about Valve? Portal 2? Half Life 2 Episode 3? TF2 or L4D news?
We’ll know in two weeks. Feel free to leave comments about what you are looking forward to
Episode Two of the Developer interviews features a chat with a QA tester from Beer Gaiden Studios. David Jeff tells us what its like to test games all day long.
E3 will be on us very shortly and Controller1.com would like to prognosticate one what you WON’T be reading about come the first week of June. This is not the result of rumor, heresay or the result of a dodgy phone camera shot of a Best Buy POS terminal. This is pure 100% bullshit. You do know how to spot bullshit, don’t you? It’s easy. Read on…
1- Nintendo will announce the Wii 2 HD console without Motion controllers, merely a redesigned N64 controller with more spikes. The Big N has listened to the whining whims of hard care gamers and is ditching the mass market with millions of easy sales of Wii fit and WiiPlay. Instead, they will focus on the shrinking marketshare that ‘core’ games that are currently divvied up between Sony and MS.
2- A Japanese game without hypersexualised pedo-bait female characters will be released. RE5 will offer new unlockable raincoat costumes for Shiva. DLC for X-Blades will include a petticoats and hoop-skirts. I do declare!Dead or Alive Extreme 3 will feature the ladies in a new environment- Open Cut Coke Mining.
3. EA will be bought by Midway
Take one company that’s big but losing a bit of money. Take another company that’s on its last knees. Midway buying EA would be like Quebec buying France. But that won’t stop Midway’s bat-shit loco insane management from giving it a go.
4. Microsoft announces a new model Xbox 360- The Bulletproof. This new model is guaranteed by Microsoft nit to break down in any way. It will never RROD or display an E74. It also has no DVD Drive, power supply, CPU, GPU or wireless receiver. It is not backwards compatible with Xbox 1 games, but its also not present-compatible with Xbox 360 games. But its not breakable.
5. Ubisoft announces a game produced by Jade Raymond that will not be demoed on stage by Ms Raymond, but by the games’ designer. Jade’s a talented lady but we’ve seen enough. Show us the dirty smelly bearded nerd.
6. Boothbabes who can stand up without developing lower back pain within 10 minutes.
7. A new Super Mario Bros game for the DS will be announced. Yes, Nintendo will actually make a second Mario platforming game on the DS. All New Super Mario Brothers will be more of the same. No Baby Mario, Wario or Yoshi. Just Mario and Luigi jumping on things.
8. a PlayStation 3 killer application. Yes, a reason for you fence sitters will be announced at E3. Unlike Heavenly Sword, Lair, Haze, MGS4, Little Big Planet or Killzone2, this will actually excite no PS3-owning gamers with two jobs to take the plunge.
9. A Twitter feed of a press conference without LOL, OMFG or Woot being used when sequel x91 is announced for mega-successful franchise y39 is announced.
10. Controller1.com’s game of show will be an MMO.
wat?
also we've started recording a few extra retro podcats to have in the can so there's no disruption in service while I go off galavanting 4 days ago
Caved and bought Lara Croft GoL. Enjoying it somewhat more than my Halo 3 (still progressing) replay. 4 days ago
looks like only US, Canada, UK and Mexico are affected. Funny how Sonyland countries are unaffected. oh and MS- there's this thing called $5 4 days ago
Xbox Live is going to get more expensive. I wonder if a US$10 hike is going to translate into a 10, 15 or 20 hike for us in Oz. 4 days ago
My tolerance for bullshit at an all time low 5 days ago
