e3-2013
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Hometown Story hopes to recapture that Harvest Moon magic
The Natsume booth feels more than a little out of place amid the murder and mayhem that defines the E3 show floor experience. For those weary of the pulsing music, constant explosions and gruff voice-overs blasting from every ear-level speaker in sight, Natsume's display of gentle, colorful games about farming and fishing can feel like an oasis from sensory overload. While they've dabbled in just abut every genre known to man, an unexpected game called Harvest Moon – which hit the SNES long after it withered on the vine – has since become Natsume's strongest brand, with 19 prime series games to date. There's no end in sight for this strangely compelling series, though its creator Yasuhiro Wada has moved on to a new IP called Hometown Story, which he hopes will have the same longevity as the series that introduced the curious addictiveness of simulating mundane tasks years before The Sims.%Gallery-191606%
Captain's Log: Star Trek Online's Daniel Stahl at E3
Last week the unstoppable Jasmine Hruschak was one member of Massively's crack team who braved the traffic of Los Angeles to take in the sights, sounds, hawking, yelling, and craziness that was the Electronic Entertainment Expo. While she was there, she interviewed Star Trek Online's Executive Producer, Daniel Stahl, and put forth a few questions from the Massively team. Stahl was able to drop a few hints about the future of Star Trek Online in his responses, so join me past the jump as I deliver the highlights from their conversation!
EA: Dead Space team working on something new, series not dead
Despite being "an important IP to EA," there is no new Dead Space game in development; instead, Visceral Games is working on something else right now. "Is that team working on a Dead Space game today? No they're not," EA executive vice president Patrick Soderlund told Eurogamer at E3 last week. "They're working on something else very exciting. You have to think of it from that perspective. Is it better to put them on the fourth version of a game they've done three previous versions of before? Or is it better to put them on something new that they want to build, that they have passion for?" This isn't the end for Dead Space, however, as Söderlund reiterates that it's "a brand that is close to Electronic Arts' heart." "I am of the utmost opinion that we have to put the best possible games in the hands of our fans," Söderlund added. "How you get to a great game, the first thing you need is a great development team that have a passion for building what they're building. That's a simple parameter. Everything else follows. Money, time, everything else follows. It's less relevant. That's ultimately how you get success. It's as simple as that." Dead Space 3, which launched earlier this year, failed to meet EA's sales expectations at launch and has had fewer sales than Dead Space 2.
The Daily Grind: How do you feel about the console MMO trend?
So the big E3 MMO news centered on consoles this year, with existing titles like DC Universe Online and PlanetSide 2 as well as upcoming projects like The Elder Scrolls Online and Final Fantasy XIV's reboot unveiling their plans for extensive console ports. For today's Daily Grind, we're interested to know what you think about the increased consolization of the MMO market. Do you think it's a good thing, or do you think it will ultimately water down what have traditionally been complex PC games? Are you planning to play any of the aforementioned titles on a console? How do you feel about the current console MMO trend? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Stick and Rudder: On Star Citizen's E3 absence
So E3 happened this past week. If you're a Massively regular, you're no doubt aware of that since we spammed up our front page and your RSS feed with gobs of hands-on coverage including everything from racing games to The Elder Scrolls Online. One thing we didn't cover was Star Citizen, because thankfully, Cloud Imperium's upcoming space sim sandbox didn't bother with an official E3 presence.
Total War: Rome 2 is a 'completely reworked vision' from The Creative Assembly
Rome: Total War is one of those games that a certain, very dedicated audience loves, while the rest of the gaming world is left outside admiring the craft but not quite understanding the dedication. The first Rome: Total War was critically acclaimed and spawned a line of expansions and updates, and now strategy giants The Creative Assembly are returning to the game with a full sequel, not to mention switching around the title to Total War: Rome 2. What's different? "Just about everything, really," says lead battle designer Jamie Ferguson during an interview at E3 2013. "In the ten years since we did Rome 1, we've completely overhauled the game. The game engine isn't even the same." TCA has released a number of Total War sequels and spinoffs throughout periods of history, and updated the original title with new features and systems already. But even despite those improvements, Ferguson says the new game has even more updates and improvements. "When we call it Rome 2, it might be a bit of a misnomer in a way," he says. "We might call it Rome Redux, I guess. It's a completely reworked vision of the game."%Gallery-191377%
Nyko keeps your second screen experience close at hand
There are always a lot of buzzwords and phrases at E3. One of the big ones at this year's show was the "second screen experience," using phones and tablets to enhance a game in one way or another. Whether it's through Microsoft's SmartGlass or Sony's PlayStation app, it seems that one screen just isn't enough for next-generation games. Spotting this trend, Nyko was on the scene at E3 to showcase one of its cleverer peripherals, the Smart Clip. Attached to an Xbox 360, Xbox One or PlayStation 4 controller, the Smart Clip adds a cradle for mobile phones – similar to the Moga Pro controller. We were told it would accommodate anything up to and including a Samsung Galaxy Note 2. It seemed kind of silly in person, but we couldn't deny the convenience of it, especially if second screen gaming becomes ubiquitous in the next few years. Nyko has created some other accessories for the PS4 and Xbox One as well. Both consoles exclusively use HDMI for audio and video, so Nyko is preparing an HDMI pass-through adapter that will allow users to connect audio receivers and headphones that require traditional red and white RCA inputs. Finally, Nyko is crafting controller charging docks for both consoles.%Gallery-191498%
Diablo III console port was almost a twin-stick shooter
Penny Arcade reports that the console version of Blizzard's Diablo III went through an interesting metamorphosis as it was ported over from the PC. A twin-stick approach was "one of the first prototypes," according to game director Josh Mosqueira. Ultimately, that particular control scheme didn't fly because of Diablo III's angled camera view. Also, "you can't blow stuff up or smash things if your thumb is on the right stick and the left stick," Mosqueira explained. You can read more on Penny Arcade's E3 DIII console hands-on via the link below. Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 10-13, bringing you all the best news from E3 2013. We're covering everything from WildStar and Elder Scrolls Online and ArcheAge to FFXIV's inbound revamp and TERA's latest update, so stay tuned!
E3 2013: World of Tanks is blasting its way to the 360
Good news, tank fans! World of Tanks is heading to the Xbox 360 soon. Wargaming.net's partnership with Microsoft has been a huge milestone for both companies, as there hasn't been a large library of F2P games to grace the console's life. Although it's particularly late in the game's life to see World of Tanks hit the console market, transition to a controller-based system has actually been a good thing for the game. At this year's E3, Massively talked with Wargaming's Jeremy Monroe a bit about the company's growth, World of Tanks on the 360, and future plans for game releases.
Retro-Bit's wireless N64 controllers are just smashing
Everyone was talking about the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Wii U during E3 this year, but the highlight of the Innex booth wanted nothing to do with these newfangled gadgets. I'm talking about Retro-Bit's Wireless Hypermode controllers for the N64. I got a chance to try out one of these controllers with the original Super Smash Bros – serendipitously right before my interview with its creator, Masahiro Sakurai – and it seemed to work swimmingly. I didn't notice any significant input latency, and was able to perform smash attacks without any trouble (as Samus, obviously). I doubt I spent more than five minutes with it, so I can't speak to longterm concerns like connectivity issues or battery life, but the initial impression was definitely a positive one. The build quality felt good, though not as high as official Nintendo controllers. The analog stick in particular felt like it didn't have as much weight or resistance to it as an official pad – more or less how you would expect a third-party controller to feel. Connection is achieved via a receiver plugged into the console's controller ports. The receiver has a connection button and a slot for a memory card or Rumble Pak. Obviously you won't be feeling any of those rumbles from across your living room, but at least the option is there for any games that require the Rumble function (like finding secrets in Ocarina of Time, etc). The Wireless Hypermode N64 controller is slated to arrive this summer for $30. A Genesis version and an NES / SNES hybrid version are panned for this fall at the same price.%Gallery-191540%
E3 2013: Warframe is coming to a PS4 near you
Nestled deep within the Sony booth at E3 amongst a horde of gamewatchers was the Warframe demo. It's a PC title from Digital Extremes that will be released on the PS4 platform at launch. Free for anyone subscribing to PSN, Warframe is a third-person shooter that is definitely undertaking some experimentation in the graphics and control departments. The PS4 demo was graphically superior to plenty of titles, running in full 1080P without a hitch or glitch in performance. Controls were responsive (although they took some getting used to), and playing with a handful of players was exhilarating at the Sony booth. I'm used to more of a keyboard-and-mouse control setup, but console fraggers will feel right at home.
The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV beta phase (E)3
The third phase of Final Fantasy XIV's beta is here, and with it, the NDA is summarily gone. Images from phase 3 can be posted; video and audio cannot. This is the fast track to finally being back in the game for real, to play your old characters once again, to enjoy the game again. Am I excited? Of course I am because I haven't been able to play yet. I'm writing this from the past, and by the time you read this, I will be awash in Eorzea. There was also a major industry event this week, one that's known officially as the Electronic Entertainment Expo and known more colloquially to everyone in the world as E3. Final Fantasy XIV was there making an impression, revealing jobs at long last, and generally carrying on as if it owned the place. So let's talk a little bit about what we saw from E3 if you can tear yourself away from the beta client for, like, five minutes.
Next-gen FIFA 14 trailer is Messi
This trailer for FIFA Soccer 14 from E3 shows stars of the sport interspersed with early clips from the game on Xbox One. While the next-gen, Ignite engine-powered versions of the game don't have a release date, the game will roll to Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on September 24.
Mad Catz's Android console now just 'MOJO,' pulls games straight from Google Play
Mad Catz's recently announced Project MOJO Android micro-console (now just "MOJO") was on-hand at the hardware manufacturer's open-air booth in the middle of E3's West Hall. We learned a great deal more about the device's proprietary publishing ecosystem, or rather its lack of one. Unlike the Ouya or other Android micro-consoles announced this year, the MOJO runs stock Android and connects to the Google Play store like any smartphone or tablet. This means that, rather than waiting for a game to be ported to the MOJO, it just has be ported to Android in general. It also means that the MOJO is registered to your existing Google Play account as another device, so any games you already own on your smartphone or tablet can be downloaded and played on the MOJO. "We don't believe we should be restricting you, we want to be as open as possible," Mad Catz senior product development manager Richard Neville told us. "We just want to give people the most powerful hardware they can get, and that then becomes the enabler for the user." Said hardware, at least on the E3 showfloor, ran on a Tegra 3 processor and featured HDMI output at 1080p, as well as two USB inputs, 16 gigs of on-board storage expandable by mini SD, wireless b/n/g interwebs and both Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth Smart. The MOJO's processor is expected to change before the micro-console launches this winter, however, when the production unit's specs are finalized around the end of this summer. We were also told that the final version will feature an Ethernet port for hard-wiring into a home network. No pricing has been announced as of yet, but the console will include a Mad Catz Ctrl-R wireless Bluetooth Classic/Smart controller, which can change between being an Android controller, mouse input or PC gamepad at the flick of a switch.%Gallery-191510%
The Witcher 3 DRM-free on PC; 'gamer-friendly' solution sought on consoles
The Witcher series of action role-playing games is reaching further than ever before, with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt launching simultaneously on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in 2014. The new consoles have been mired in discussion over DRM (digital rights management) recently, with Microsoft instituting connectivity requirements to play games, and PlayStation leaving publishers to decide how to control the sale and resale of their content. The Polish developer behind The Witcher, CD Projekt RED, now tries to find an ideal incarnation for its publicly asserted values, which are staunchly opposed to DRM of any kind. "I can only talk about our intentions; we don't have any agreement finalized yet," CD Projekt co-founder Marcin Iwiński tells me, carefully choosing his words. "It's all quite early and we're finding out about it this week, at the conference. But our intention, obviously, is to choose the most gamer-friendly solution." In CD Projekt's perfect world, those solutions would be aligned with their PC- and Mac-based digital distribution platform, GOG.com, where games are 100 percent DRM-free. "Whatever the solutions will be for our partners, we choose something ideally as close to what we have on GOG as possible."
Rain: Boy meets invisible girl
The concept at the heart of Rain is magical. Looking out his window, a boy witness an invisible girl, her silhouette revealed by the rain as she runs splashing through the night. She's followed by another invisible entity outlined by the rain, a ferocious bipedal monster, which is referred to only as an "unknown." Fearing for the girl's life, the boy chases after her, following her and the monster through a strange door of light. Emerging on the other side, the boy finds himself in different though familiar world. It looks like his own, a seemingly European city filled with alleyways, though this world is cloaked in perpetual night and never-ending rain. In this world, he too is invisible, his presence revealed only by the rain pattering against his body. The boy sets off in search of the girl, looking for answers. Is he cursed to remain invisible? Can he ever return to his own world? Those will have to wait though, as the boy is soon running from a pack of different four-legged monsters. He quickly discovers that invisibility has its advantages. By hiding under structures so that the rain doesn't give away his position, the monsters can no longer see him. Normally, this sort of storybook world would be right up my alley (see: my Unfinished Swan review), but I'm afraid Rain's big trick may be its only trick.%Gallery-189816%
E3 2013 wrap-up with Joystiq and Engadget
E3 2013 is officially at an end. There was a lot to take in, so join Joystiq Reviews Editor Richard Mitchell and Engadget Senior Associate Editor Ben Gilbert as they do their best to encapsulate everything that went down this year. They talk about the showings from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, as well as some of the industry trends that are cropping up and the Oculus Rift's surprising ability to crack through the jaded, cynical shell of game journalists. We'll have more E3 previews and coverage over the next few days, so be sure to stay tuned to Joystiq!
Mad Catz Tournament Edition 2 FightStick for Xbox One is customizable, out this fall
Mad Catz has a brand-spankin-new arcade stick to go along with Microsoft's brand-spankin-new Xbox One: the Tournament Edition 2 FightStick. At first glance, it may look like nothing more than a slightly flashier version of the existing models, but beyond the fact that it comes equipped with the same Sanwa Denshi parts, the TE2 is a whole new beast. The case opens on a hinge, to start with. Pressing the Mad Catz logo on the front of the unit releases a latch that grants access to the internals of the stick, which has been designed so that nearly every piece of the thing can be replaced or customized with the user's choice of buttons, micro-switches, LED mods or what-have-you. There's even compartments for extra buttons and an on-board screwdriver for removing the mounting bracket that holds the buttons and stick. We weren't allowed to photograph the inside of the stick as its design isn't finalized, but we're told the final version will also contain storage for spare joysticks and the TE2's detachable cable, which will be sold in varying lengths. What we did see, however, was the stock LED lighting effects under the buttons and on the side panels. The stick is also designed in such a way that the artwork can be replaced without having to remove the joystick or buttons. Mad Catz was unable to comment on whether replacement side panels will be sold, or if replacement plexiglass inserts will be available for people that prefer different button layouts. The Tournament Edition 2 FightStick will be available alongside the Xbox One at launch, though its price point has yet to be announced.%Gallery-191426%%Gallery-191509%
Sherlock Holmes Crimes and Punishments' new mechanic inspired by BBC show
Sherlock Holmes Crimes and Punishments is a departure from Frogwares' previous investigation game, The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, in a number of ways. Crimes and Punishments aims to put players inside the mind of the world's greatest detective, to see the world as he sees it and deliberate the moral choices within Holmes' logistics of justice. It's emotional and dark, and in a demo showing off the story as told in Unreal Engine 3, it already appears insanely effective. One of the most obvious changes is the new "Character Portrait" ability, which allows Holmes to take a moment and examine a suspect or witness with his keen, investigative eye. As he scans the person, words in white appear over certain features, noting how expensive or worn down certain articles of clothing are, noting scrapes or signs of labor on limbs, and deducing relevant, personal information. This ability in particular is inspired by the BBC show Sherlock, designer Olga Chalovskaya told me. Sherlock is, itself, a dramatic interpretation of Holmesian detective stories, and Crimes and Punishments draws on many of the same, human-driven tones.%Gallery-190679%
EA: Wii U's lack of Madden, FIFA a 'rational' business decision
Nintendo's Wii U is struggling in sales and support. During an interview this week at E3 with Charlie Scibetta, Nintendo of America's head of corporate communications, we noted that the Wii U's lack of Madden this year puts it in the company of Sega's ill-fated Dreamcast. EA currently has no games in development for Wii U. "You'd have to ask EA about their future development plans. EA is a great partner of ours, they've had games on our platforms before. They want what all third parties want and what we want: for the install base to grow," said Scibetta. "We're confident that once some of these games come out that we have planned between now and the holiday and into 2014, that it will help drive the install base and when that happens the platforms will look more enticing to third parties." So, we asked Electronic Arts Labels President Frank Gibeau about what Nintendo can do to bring EA back to the Wii U.
