E3 2013: Microsoft Xbox Conference: On the Surface, It’s Got Merit…

Posted on June 12, 2013 by geelw

…But things go very far south very quickly if you’re not who they want to be in on their new console. Check out this pre-order info page and if your eyeballs aren’t rolling on the floor trying to find your jaw, you’re the guy or gal they want. Also note that currently, Japan and wow, every other primarily Asian county isn’t even on the list of supported territories, but given the Xbox and Xbox 360 not doing anywhere as well there as they did elsewhere, it’s going to be extremely interesting to see what exactly does happen if and when the Xbox One rolls out in these areas. Thanks to MXE Videos for this clip, as Microsoft has yet to run the full version of this on their own YouTube channel, instead preferring to chop it into smaller segments to show off the games and their respective reveals. I think it works best as a whole meal myself…

E3 2013 Humor: Meanwhile, Back At Microsoft HQ…

Posted on June 11, 2013 by geelw

Or something like that… Well, I thought it was funny!

Yeah, how about that Xbox One and its assorted restrictions? The console is SOUND and so are some of those games. But, man… the suits failed to see that actual people aren’t all the same when it comes to how they want to play games and what they want to do with those games when they’re done with them or simply want to try something someone is playing or has played without the need to raise their hands and get a damned bathroom pass from that Kinect. Fix that (and the always online disguised as not really always online) and maybe you’ll see more happy consumers…

(thank you TigerStylus101 for the video!)

E3 2013: Earth Defense Force 2025 Air Raider Trailer: Nice, But That EU Release Date Bugs Me A Bit…

Posted on June 11, 2013 by geelw

Hmmm… I was hoping D3Publisher of America wouldn’t disappoint and in respect to getting this Japanese trailer localized and running with the full-on Solid Snake parody thing working – they nailed it. On the other hand, Namco Bandai has announced that the release date for Earth Defense Force 2025 in Europe is (eek!) February 2014 (!), so I need to bug D3Publisher of America to see if the US version of this is arriving sooner as the Japanese import hits on July 4, 2013 and like the old days of 16 and 32-bit games, that’s a long wait for some fans. Well, us crazier EDF fans import anyway AND end up buying the versions in our respective territories (that PS3 being region free is a wonderful thing, kids!), but still… I need to practice up for the impending invasion! I guess another replay of Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable it is, then…

E3 2013: Lego Marvel Super Heroes Trailer: TT Games Makes It Marvelicious!

Posted on June 11, 2013 by geelw

Yeah, it’s on, again. Eternally busy developer TT Games is really knocking it all over and out of the park with their LEGO games, and while LEGO Batman 2 was spectacular, this looks as if it will top it and yes, Marvel Comics fans are hopping up and down about this all over the place. That said, as much pure fun as these games are to play solo or co-op, I keep wondering when we’ll see TT do a SERIOUS super-hero game, as I can only imagine how cool an open world Marvel or DC game would be if it played like this and had the same amount of characters (or more) to choose from. No, some MMO doesn’t hack it for me – I’m an offline guy and an antisocial jerk, at that. Well, most of the time…

E3 2013: PlayStation 4 Reveal: A Rerun Worth Repeating, As It’s A REALLY Good One…

Posted on June 11, 2013 by geelw

I’ll most likely run trailers of all the games shown here at some point, but you look more tired than I do, so it’s break time! Grab a sammich and a drink, pull up a seat and catch this rebroadcast of Sony’s E3 press conference where they basically slowly drop kick Microsoft’s otherwise master plans for living room dominance in the hind quarters. Granted, talk is cheap… but compared to Microsoft’s attitude towards consumers over time and particularly during the Xbox One reveals, this one’s worth being a bit smug over if you’re a longtime Sony fan. I like games, PERIOD, so I really have no preference. However, I also like to be able to PLAY my games and not have anyone tell me how, where or when to, so Sony’s at least understood that and a few other important things…

E3 2013: Diablo III Trailer: No One Fights Alone (But Me)…

Posted on June 11, 2013 by geelw

Yes, I know Diablo III is built for multiplayer action (as noted in the trailer), but I’m a HUGE solo offline guy and as with Diablo II on PC, the PS3 version of DIII supports that 100 percent. Which means I’m in for the long haul as well as the many changes made to the game to get it up and running on Sony’s console. I’m not quite sure why this isn’t being hyped more by Blizzard and Sony, as it looks spectacular and I’m betting it does really well on the PS3 and PS4 when that version is ready. Well, I suppose we’ll see a few ads on TV and more online, as it’s tough to give the Devil his due without offending SOMEONE out there…

E3 2013: Mad Max Trailer: No Gameplay Makes Me A Road Worrier (For The Moment)…

Posted on June 11, 2013 by geelw

Yeah, yeah… CG trailers are fine and dandy, but I hate them so far into this generation where game engines can do this stuff and look better overall. Oh well – as long as the actual game itself is fun to play and gets the look and feel of the Mad Max movies right (well, I don’t mean that last one so much), it’ll be a hit. If it’s not a hit… well, I still have my copies of Outlander for the Super Nintendo and Genesis here to replay. Then again, this IS being done by Avalanche Studios (Just Cause, Just Cause 2), so it’s bound to be impressive and quite awesome as an open-world experience should they go that route.

E3 2013: Nintendo Direct: Getting The Base A Bit More Sealed In…

Posted on June 11, 2013 by geelw

OK, so the live stream was a bit… c..h…op…p…y, ut here’s the YouTube version that runs just fine. Nintendo has yet again, charted its own path with games for it’s core users and some cool exclusives, not all of which I care a hoot about. Still, Pokemon X and Y, Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros Wii U and SSB 3DS. and the rest of the old favorites look spiffy indeed, that Windwaker HD remix is a must-play and the third-party games are certainly going to make the hardcore happy. I actually prefer Bayonetta’s old hair and costume, but Platinum knows what it’s doing with the character. And yes, The Wonderful 101 looks great. I’m dying to try those Art Academy tools once they’re released, so I’ll need to keep an eye on the eShop and Nintendo’s emails to see when they’re available. As for Monolith Soft’s work in progress X… wow – I’ll be keeping an eye on that and HOPING it’s not as draggy as Xenoblade Chronicles after about 20 hours in. That new game sure looks gorgeous in motion.

E3 2013: On Used Games, Yeah, Sony Twists That Knife In Microsoft’s Gut…

Posted on June 11, 2013 by geelw

Well… Sony and their newly revealed PlayStation 4 pretty much made a mockery of Microsoft’s press conference, turning it into the video game equivalent of Game of Thrones’ gory Red Wedding sequence and making the folks in Redmond probably wonder what the hell just happened during that last 20 or so minutes when everything they offered in TWO press conferences was peeled away point by point in favor of core gamers and consumer in general. The video will go down in gaming history as THE moment for many where loyalties changed and the big rectangular egg on the wall over Redmond way collapsed to the pavement. It’s going to be an innnnteresting holiday season, that’s for damn sure…

E3 2013: PlayStation 4: $399, No DRM, Content Galore, PS Plus Required For Online MP…

Posted on June 10, 2013 by geelw

Well, it’s pretty much a no-brainer for some gamers this holiday season. Or NOW if you hit up Amazon.com and pre-order (which is VERY highly recommended if you want one of these before Xmas).

Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 4 console comes in at a hundred dollars less than the Xbox One, used games CAN be sold, lent and traded as before (and as they’ve been for decades), PSN accounts with content can be transferred over and there are a really nice selection of games and services on the way. That said, the one wrinkle in the new deal is the requirement for users who want to play online to have a PlayStation Plus account…

But VERY misplaced internet rage aside, this isn’t a bad thing at all, as it’s basically the cost of a new game for a whole year ($60) and Sony will not only add free NEW games to those who buy in, PS Plus actually gets costs DOWN on games you buy in the future from PS One Classics to current and future PSN releases. So it’s really a case of do you want that discount or not. The PSN free ride had to end at some point as Sony has most likely been bleeding money keeping it running for so long.

ALSO (and this is the important part)… that Xbox One price doesn’t include the cost of an Xbox Live Gold membership, mandatory for using that console for pretty much anything. Mama said knock you out, Microsoft… Sony listened to mama, it would seem…