Impressions

Resistance 2 (PlayStation 3)

This game has amazing graphics and with great scale to the game it just makes you wonder, how is Nathan Hale suppose to overcome this? The whole atmosphere of the game seems to be changing the game play basics with the guns available at your disposal. With 60 players online with squads, two full campaigns co-op / single, new community features, and butt kicking story to go along with it I just can't wait. I wanted to see some live multiplayer game play from Insomniac but what was shown impressed me.

Little Big Planet Business Updates Presentation (PlayStation 3)

This was interesting because I thought Sony would be using PlayStation Home to help move the presentation but used video games instead. Sony went through the business updates through Little Big Planet because you're able to pretty much create anything you can think of. It showed off the game as well as giving you updates on what's to come from Sony.

Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty (PlayStation Network)

This is the continuation from the Ratchet & Clank Future Series and will answer questions to Clank's disappearance in Tools of Destruction.

PlayStation Store: Videos

This is basically Sony's version to the video downloads Microsoft has for films and shows. With the Sony's version you're able to bring your content with you where ever you want to go. There are two ways to get content to your PlayStation Portable (PSP) one through the PlayStation 3 (PS3) to the PSP and two, PC (Personal Computer) to the PSP. The video section of the store will be very similar to the game section that has a preview option, wallet purchasing method, add to cart option, and interface you're already familiar to. Speeds depend on your bandwidth connection, about an hour for a SD (Standard Definition) two hour movie, and they also added a progressive download feature that allows users to watch the movie within a minute after purchase.

Resistance: Retribution (PlayStation Portable)

This is just a PSP's version of Resistance for the PlayStation 3 now you can take it with you where ever you go. This title looks interesting and I want to hear more about it.

DC Universe Online (PlayStation 3, PC)

This game looks to be good but I wanted to see a live or video demonstration of the game play but was treated to a trailers.

God of War III (PlayStation 3)

They showed off a teaser trailer for God of War 3 and it just confirms that it's in development, that's good enough for me.

Infamous (PlayStation 3)

We were treated to another trailer but this time it had game play that looks very promising. This game looks like it will go head to head with Prototype because of the design choices both developers made. This will really show consumers that the PlayStation 3 can deliver an experience different from multiplats or other TV console exclusives.

M.A.G. (PlayStation 3)

Overall

Their press conference was mostly about the games to convince others (I'm already convinced) to buy their console and I wanted to see games like Heavy Rain: The Origami Killer, Wardevil: Unleash the Beast Within, or Fifth Phantom Saga. Basically games that seem to be under the radar so much it sounds like they aren't in development. I also wanted to see Killzone 2, more of Resistance 2, SOCOM: Confrontation, Motor Storm: Specific Rift or even Final Fantasy XIII. That's the thing with Sony games as each generation comes by, Sony loses a couple of exclusives and suffer something I like to call the multiplatform curse. Crash Bandicoot and Syro were very popular in the PlayStation days so much it, Crash became the mascot for the PlayStation. With the birth of the PlayStation 2 they lost a couple of games to multiplatform development. Now they're second thought in the gaming industry while Sony made new IPs (Intellectual Property).

Now with the PlayStation 2 slowly fading with the PlayStation 3 having all the spot light games like Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, Virtual Fighter, or even Red Faction pretty much lost popularity. Even though the decision was made to make more money in the end only did the opposite. I just hope Resident Evil 5 and Final Fantasy XIII don't fall into the curse. The curse is mostly due to the fact that all versions must be equal throughout and the availability to get the game on another platform. The main reason why it was just a big announcement at Microsoft was because it was a Sony exclusive. In the end Sony has always managed to get back on their feet so I just can't wait for the other games to release.

Related Blog(s): Microsoft Press Conference, Nintendo Press Conference

Impressions

Animal Crossing: City Folk (Wii)

This game doesn't seem to be changing the game all that much with the addition of multiplayer, Wii speech, and new areas. This game is just not for me, and I like The Sims at a point, which it seems to be a simpler version of The Sims.

Star Wars: Clone Wars (Wii), Rayman Raving Rabbits TV Party (Wii), Call of Duty: World at War (Wii)

All these titles seem like a fully fledged game of the Wii Series not demos (Demonstrations) that give you fixed game play types. The only one that doesn't look like an extension of the Wii Series is Call of Duty: World at War that might be targeted at an older audience. These titles don't appeal to me at all even if you have lightsaber battles in Star Wars: Cone Wars.

Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades (DS)

You'll be able to share songs with other DS users with other Guitar Hero games is pretty much the only new feature it will have. I didn't get any of the TV console versions (XBOX 360 / PlayStation 3) so I won't be getting a DS for this.

Spore Creatures (DS)

You can share your creatures with other DS owners is pretty much the only new feature it will have.

Pokemon Rangers: Shadows of all Nea (DS)

I use to love Pokemon when I was in grade 4 when a vast majority of gamers were a whole lot younger, now things have changed. With the generation of gamers growing up announcements like Pokemon won't appeal to gamers who buy your games when they come out.

Grand Theft Auto: China Town Wars (DS)

This is said to be your typical Grand Theft Auto replicated for the DS that will have a setting in modern times.

Wii Motion Plus

This is an add-on that makes the motion sensor to be more precise by following your movement exactly in real time.

Wii Sports Resort

To be honest the Wii Sports was just bundled in with the Wii to demonstrate the new controllers but became so popular. Now the demonstration is going to be sold as a game because it's just a collection of low graphical quality games to demonstrate the motion sensor.

Wii Music

Wii Music made me laugh but it doesn't make me want to play any of the interments let alone buy the whole game. Wii Music looks like the demo disc that was bundled with the Wii when first launched in 2006.

Overall

It's finally clear to me that Nintendo is not going to try to get the hardcore audience at all with announcements like these. That's the most disappointing factor that Nintendo has even when they're a head when it comes to interaction with video games. They lack the muscles that the other TV consoles have to give it that hardcore appeal. I also think Nintendo is targeting an audience that doesn't even keep up with them. As far as I know my mom never even heard of E3 let alone an E3 Press Conference and Nintendo doesn't realize that. The targeted audience isn't even at E3 for the most part it's like targeting the casual Star Trek fanatic at a Star Trek Convention, it isn't going to happen. All I'm saying is that my mom isn't jumping up and down over announcements made in the press conference because she doesn't care, she isn't a gamer.

Related Blog: Microsoft Press Conference

Impressions

Fallout 3 Live Demonstrations (XBOX 360, PlayStation 3, PC)

From what I've seen I think graphically the game doesn't seem to impress me but the game play does. I like how you can aim at certain body parts and will give you a percentage of your chances of hitting it (Vats / sorry if misspelled). The fact that you can play it as a first person shooter or very similar to a turn based strategy game and the exclusive content is for XBOX 360 / Games for Windows.

Resident Evil 5 Live Demonstration (XBOX 360, PlayStation 3, PC)

Now this game to me looks beautiful very pleasing to the eyes and looks like they're taking Resident Evil 4 (RE4) game play mechanics in the next instalment. The first game play trailer was said to be racist me personally that never occurred to me and still wonder why people said it. In this demonstration the first enemy isn't even black so I'm not sure if they changed it up due to accusations or it was originally planned to be that way. For the most part the game play is pretty much identical to RE4 which isn't a bad thing considering it was just introduced in the fourth instalment. What's really interesting that the fictional African city has their own B.S.A.A. TEAM with a character called Shava Alamar (sorry for miss spelling) for online co-op. This is what I think will sell Resident Evil 5 on the next generation console even if people make references to Army of Two.

Fable II (XBOX 360)

To be honest Fable II's demonstration didn't look all that impressive to me considering Peter keeps saying it's innovative. I just think he's going to over hype the game thus the game won't live up to the expectations. What I really like is that you can have your friends join in any time with you while you're playing without any lobbies. Even though Peter is known to deliver a third of his promises I really do think this time he's learned not to talk too much. Instead mentions something then presents it, in-game play so people know it's there. I notice he's trying to create a Grand Theft Auto type game in the Fable universe by doing activities outside of the main campaign.

Gears of War 2 (XBOX 360)

I loved the intro movie that was shown just before the game was announced with the lead designer. The game went dark for a second and the characters repeated exactly what they did. My guess is that it was pre-recorded and wasn't a live demonstration. The game play seems to be the game and is more focused on redefining what was already there. Game that doesn't change too much with the core game play will have to rely on weapons changing up the game play. That's exactly what Gears of War 2 does allowing shields for cover introducing new game play. The game visually doesn't seem to change much but this time actually looks like it's in HD (High Definition) which is new for the XBOX 360. Most of the games are in sub-HD resolutions so it doesn't look as sharp and this game looks sharp. I also noticed the game doesn't seem to be too dark with a lot of better lighting even in the dark, if that makes any sense. I didn't see any destructible environments in this recorded game play but it's said to have destructible environments. What's really interesting, Gears of War was the first next generation game to hit the XBOX 360 so in result made a big impact, this time around it doesn't seem to have that same oomph.

New Interface

The new interface is basically the Cross Media Bar (XMB) but with larger icons horizontally and text based titles vertically. To me the old interface needed a change because too much things were loading up at once. So I like the new look because it's cleaner for navigation instead of being cluttered with adverts.

Avatars

The avatars are closer to the Miis on the Wiis than the PlayStation Home on the PlayStation 3. It has more of a kid look to me kind of makes it a little less hard core if you have some kiddie avatar on your gamer card. Of course Microsoft has a video of people saying that their avatars will take over and is so evolutionary likes it's the next big thing before it even hits the market. The final picture shows a whole bunch of avatars that reminds me of Nintendo not Microsoft which is kind of funny. With this new feature it comes with other things like Live Party or even games like 1 vs. 100 (Primtime).

Portal: Still Alive (XBOX Live Arcade)

This just means it will have brand new levels available to the XBOX Live Arcade. I haven't played any of Valve's games because my primary console is the PlayStation 3. I heard that there were / are a lot of bugs on the PlayStation 3 version that aren't / weren't being addressed.

South Park (XBOX Live Arcade)

I love South Park so it will be interesting to see how the game turns out.

Netflix

Now XBOX 360 has Netflix available through the XBOX 360 for TV Shows, Movies, etc. What's really interesting you can now watch your content through the Live Party considering that PlayStation Home you can upload videos. This seems to be trying to answer XBOX 360 owners of their version of PlayStation Home in a way.

Final Fantasy XIII (XBOX 360, PlayStation 3), Infinite Undiscovery (XBOX 360)

The Final Fantasy XIII was announced for the XBOX 360 which was a little disappointing not because it was always on a Sony console but for the fact both versions now will be the same. This is why I don't really like multiplatforms because both versions must be equal or the customers will get upset. Infinite Undiscovery is another XBOX 360 exclusive that looks interesting but the Final Fantasy XIII announcement is the biggest out of the two.

Overall

It was disappointing in the sense that the multiplatform games had all the thunder over the exclusives especially Final Fantasy XIII. When a multiplatform game is announced and is bigger than your exclusives you know something is wrong. Even Microsoft's spokes person was excited for the Final Fantasy XIII announcement. What also was a disappointment was the attention to the casual gamer throughout the conference. The avatars are also geared towards the casual audience and are in the middle ground between Sony and Wii avatars. It was a good conference but a lot of the focus was on casual gamers while games like Gears of War 2 had so little time on the stage.

The Marvel Surprise

Iron Man

Plot

During a business trip to Afghanistan to demonstrate Stark Industries' new weapon, the "Jericho" cluster missile, Tony Stark's convoy is attacked. One of his own company's bombs lands near him and explodes. The blast causes him to lose consciousness and embeds several pieces of shrapnel in his chest, one fragment dangerously close to his heart.

Director: Jon Favreau

Producer(s): Avi Arad, Kevin Feige

Writer(s): Screen Play: John August (uncredited), Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Arthur Marcum, Matthew Hollaway

Comic Book: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, Jack Kirby

Starring: Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard

The Incredible Hulk

Plot

The film's back-story is detailed during flashbacks, which are mostly in the opening credits, and further exposition. General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (William Hurt) hired scientist and radiation expert Dr. Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) to revive a World War II era military bio-force enhancement research project (to create "supersoldiers"). Banner exposed himself to gamma radiation, which results in him becoming a giant, green-skinned monster called the Hulk, and hospitalizing Ross' daughter Betty (Liv Tyler), who was Banner's colleague and lover. Now a fugitive from the United States Army, Banner went on the run for five years.

Director: Louis Leterrier

Producer(s): Avi Arad, Gale Anne Hurd, Kevin Feige

Writers: Screen Play: Edward Norton (uncredited), Zak Penn

Comic Book: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby

Starring: Edward Norton (The Hulk), Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt

The Marvel Surprise

At the end of each of these movies there is a Marvel Surprise that might freak out Marvel fanatics and if you already watched it don't worry. I'm guessing they will just put it on the Blu-ray disc / DVD versions of the movie once released as a hard copy. What's really cool is that if you watch Iron Man first than The Incredible Hulk it has more significance. I will have my thoughts on both of these movies soon, hopefully.

Mental Note: It's after the credits when you'll see the Marvel surprise that will freak you out.

No Editing Online IDs

PlayStation Network

I was playing online recently and I was talking to people online until we got to the point when we were talking about PlayStation Network IDs (Identification). I soon realized that you can't change / edit your online ID and most people make a new account. For me that won't work if I decide to change my name because I have purchased items from the PlayStation Store. If I go through with it that would mean I would have to re-buy everything in the store again. For most people this might have been common knowledge but it just never occurred to me to check, I just always thought you could change it any time.

XBOX Live

On XBOX Live you're able to change your online ID for 800 Microsoft Points (MP) and for each 100 MP in Canada (CAN) it's $1.45. That would be a total of $11.60 in real life which isn't bad it's about the same price as a game add-on. This is expected because Microsoft handles all the online stuff for the XBOX 360 so they have all the information for the leader boards. Even though it doesn't really change the experience it makes you relaxed because you know your name isn't set in stone.

Firmware Update

I just hope Sony sneaks in a firmware update or people start randomly complaining because of the demand. Like how Microsoft didn't include an HDMI port on the XBOX 360 then came out with the XBOX 360 Elite with an HDMI port. They eventually sneaked in HDMI ports in all the consoles making the focus on the HDMI when it should've been the hard drive when it came to the Elite. This doesn't bother me but from time to time I do think about changing my name every so often. After finding this out it's like man if only there was a warning of some kind I might have picked another name or something.

The only example to express how I feel, it's like ever since you were young you heard that Canada's Wonderland had a ride called the Drop Zone. It was one of the best rides available and finally you're 18 you go there for the first time and realize they replaced it. For some reason it kept malfunctioning, for people's safety they had to replace it. It doesn't ruin your whole experience there, but it just makes you want to go back in time so you could experience it. That's how it basically is without editing your online ID with the PlayStation Network it doesn't ruin the experience but makes you want to go back in time so you can change it to whatever you want.

All well people who have seen my name either really hate it or really like it. I've met people who have made at least two accounts because of the no editing. At first I just thought it was just the number of people playing on the console. Now I know it's because they wanted to change their names or made a mistake on it. It should be easy to do since developers have to link the PlayStation Network to their servers. So when they update the stats it will just change to the new name the person has changed it to. It would also be good to charge people to get some money out of the people who keep changing their names. I'm actually surprised no one complained about this because with game journalist today they'll complain over the littlest things. In other words they cry over spilt milk. From what I've seen Sony is adding features that are in demand instead of including a whole bunch not knowing if people will be using it. So here's to hoping the next update will include online ID edits.

Mental Note: This should have been in my top 5 for what I don't like about my PlayStation 3.

Related Blog(s): 5 Things I Don't Like About My XBOX 360, 5 Things I Don't Like About My PlayStation 3

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Campaign

So far I've done Act 1 - Act 3 and all I can say is that this game is amazing the game play changes dramatically. Everything they show in the trailers is all in the first Act and in each Act you change locations. With each Act game play changes. Once you hit Act 3: Third Sun things get really interesting and there is even an interactive cinematic that will blow you away. When it first happened I was thinking that it was still a cut scene wondering when I will play, until I died. Act 4: Twin Suns is a very emotional Act and I haven't even seen a cinematic yet. Once you play the game you'll know what I'm talking about when I say emotional. What really blows my mind is when Sunny makes eggs during the Mission Briefing. I swear to God it looks so real you're going to think it's a real-time footage but every cinematic is in-game graphics. Don't get me wrong there are certainly parts in the game that you know for sure it is a video game but the Mission Briefings keep getting me at even when I've seen it already.

With the cinematics in the game that editors / reviewers were writing about all I have to say is that I look forward to everyone. I'm not done the game yet and what I've seen so far this game just blows the competition especially Act 3: Third Sun, I've never seen that in a game before. People were jumping for joy when they saw Alone in the Dark: Walkthrough Chapter 4: Enviornmental Dangers (yes Game Trailers spelled it wrong, lol). Too bad I haven't experience more of that from what I experienced it isn't the same type of game play but along those lines cinematics mixed in with game play.

Metal Gear Online Starter Pack

Before going online you have to sign up for a Konami ID then a Konami Game ID on their website through the game. When I first saw this I was like wait I have to go on the computer but when you enter into the Konami IDs screen it uses the consoles browser. That is also used for the Official Site, Community Support Page, MGO Shop, and Online Manual. In my opinion I think this is good because on other consoles to check the community sites you have to go on a computer. This is a very good use of the console's browser for video games. I just hope Insomniac is looking at this when they make their community web site for their game. You eventually have to make a character that you name, choose a voice, face, and gear. Once that's all done you're pretty much ready to go online and battle up to 16 players at once.

The main menu has your usual stuff like Online News, Mail, Clan, Personal Data, and Rankings. What's really cool is that you can do training in lobbies with experienced players for combat training. Everything you can do in the campaign you can do in the multiplayer battles. All the QCQ (Close Quarters Combat) is there with a catch. Everything you do has a levelling system even the QCQ, to Assault Rifles, you name it, and all of it is tracked and will allow your player to be better as you level up. What I really like about Metal Gear Online is that you can link nanomachines (SOP Link) in your bodies when doing a team based game to constantly know the locations of your teammates. How does this benefit you, well whatever happens to your avatar / character you'll send a signal to your team mates linked up with the SOP Links. Once you die you lose the link and to do this you have to have your teammate in sight then press triangle to activate it.

To give you an idea of how CQC came be in the game if experienced enough you can grab your enemy equipped with a hand gun and knife. You press and hold R1 to grab your opponent, press the "R1" button just as your avatar pulls the target toward you to make them release their weapon, press the cross (X) button to kneel, release "R1" and push the left joy stick forward while still released, quickly hold down the "R1" button to perform a choke. In this position you can knock them out or hold it longer to kill them. It sound complicated but it's really simple once you actually get to do it. I find dropping their weapon then knocking them down makes more sense but this is just showing you that you can combine them.

The game supports voice chat, text, and preset voice commends just for the people you don't want to type yet want to communicate. The game mode I like the most is the Sneaking Mission, 12 people are usually playing 2 being the middle faction. One being the MG (Metal Gear) MK (Mark) II and the other as Old Snake, while red and blue is fighting the MG MK II / Snake have to get 3 dog tags to win. You have all the abilities from the campaign so it's everyone's game. If a certain player keeps killing Snake it's over, once you die as Snake you have to reclaim the dog tags again, or if Red / Blue wins the battle before Snake / MG MK II win they (Snake / MG MK II) lose. There is a lot of depth to the game yet at the same time it's very easy to get into.

Mental Note: I'm playing the campaign on Big Boss Hard difficulty so it might take me a bit longer than an average gamer.

Related Blog: Turok, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, & Super Stardust HD