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The Perfect Ten: Goosebump trailers
I love trailers. Man, I love trailers. I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but sometimes I'll spend a shameful hour just flipping through all of my favorite movie and game trailers. When the editing is tight and the music spot-on, my spine becomes infused with epicness and I feel a heady buzz that comes from seeing so much awesome crammed into such a short clip. Just as in the movie industry, MMO studios are hit or miss with their trailers. There have been so many generic, forgettable videos that I pad the lining of my imaginary dog's crate with them. They're very absorbent and release the fresh scent of pine. But once in a while, there comes along a trailer that acts like the Dark Crystal, sucking my soul right into it before shaking it around and then releasing it. Trailers like that give me goosebumps, and here are 10 of them, all in a row.
Become a DCUO beta tester, see the end of the world
DC Universe fans can officially stop crying in their beer. No, the delayed launch date hasn't been rescinded, but today does mark the official start of the pre-order beta period. Budding superheroes who have ponied up for the SOE title will need to submit an image of their receipt via the official pre-order webpage to get the process rolling. Don't delay either, as submissions must be received prior to November 15th in order to receive your beta key. In addition to the privilege of previewing and testing the game, bug-hunters will get to participate in the end-of-beta event showcased in last summer's Blur Studios trailer (an apocalyptic throw-down featuring Batman, Superman, the Joker, Lex Luthor, and others). Check out SOE's new pre-order beta page for more details. [Update: Note that this offer only applies to North American players. Visit DCUO Source for the official word from SOE.]
Alderaan stands up to Darth Malgus in new E3 trailer for SWTOR
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/SWTOR_trailer_leaked_battle_of_Alderaan_shown'; Last year EA, Bioware, and Blur studios blew us away with a realistically rendered 3D cinematic trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic. And as predicted, they did it again! The trailer set to be released at E3 has been leaked all over YouTube. The tension starts over-looking a city on Alderaan as the Sith Imperial army starts its full assault. The city is devastated, but the Republic Trooper's Havoc Squad is waiting with a do-or-die surprise assault. Unfortunately, today it seems to be "die" until a Jedi, possibly Satele Shan, swoops in to save the day. With an incredible show of Force powers, this Jedi Consular fights back Darth Malgus' army and even faces off one-on-one with the Dark Lord. A lot of lore spoilers were given to the fans today in this trailer, and there will be more from E3 and Massively this week. But the trailer invites the question: What can a movie render say about the game itself? It has a very rich story and some very memorable characters. Bioware has been the king of storytelling for a long time, but I think a lot of fans are waiting to see how the gameplay comes together. Be sure to stay tuned into Massively for our interview tomorrow with staff of SWTOR and catch the full trailer after the break.
Hyperspace Beacon: E3 -- extravagant extraterrestrial exhibition
The Hyperspace Beacon is a weekly guide and discussion by Larry Everett about the yet-to-be-released game Star Wars: The Old Republic. We have been teased, taunted, and tantalized this week before the Electronic Entertainment Expo, so much so SWTOR fans don't know topsy from turvy. In this Hyperspace Beacon, released just hours before Electronic Arts' press conference at the Expo, I will hopefully give you the lowdown on the latest news and perhaps help you appreciate the magnitude of the startling reveals. On the surface they may seem like hyped-up teases with very little to latch on to, but I believe they have exposed quite a bit. As Massively reporters packed their bags to head to Los Angeles, Bioware did not stop tossing tidbits at its diligent disciples. First, we were treated with a hands-on walkthrough from Gamespot detailing the beginning quest for most of the starting classes. Twi'leks and chiss were cited as playable species in this revealing report. Also, Gametrailers.com probed the path behind producing an exciting E3 trailer. Besides touring Blur studios, the interview taunted us with a brief look into this year's animated short story. Continue on after the break to find more insight into the extravagant extraterrestrial exhibition that is this year's E3.
The making of the Warhammer Online cinematic
Just before Warhammer Online launched, we were treated to a gorgeous new cinematic to give us just a taste of what to expect in the game. This teaser launched right about the same time as World of Warcraft's Wrath of the Lich King trailer, making for several heated forum debates on which video was more amazing. No matter which side of that fence you're on, the fact is that Mythic gave Blizzard a run for their money in the cinematic department, there's no doubt.Now the actual creators of that cinematic, Blur Studio, have compiled a two-hour video depicting the making of that Warhammer teaser. It's broken down into four parts, so you can pace yourself, but it's certainly worth a watch if you're into the whole CGI scene. You'll learn about the concept stages, how Blur took liberties with actually creating new content before it was designed for the game, how the Orcs were made as an army and much more. Check out Blur's website for their impressive CGI portfolio which includes the Tabula Rasa cinematic as well.
Metareview - Marvel Ultimate Alliance
The ongoing debate over which superhero universe reigns supreme may never be settled, but Marvel Comics is looking like the clear winner in the gaming space with Activision's release of Marvel Ultimate Alliance. There's no Incredible Hulk (he's in Vivendi's game), but just about everyone else from the House of Ideas makes an appearance, which amounts to at least 20 playable characters on each platform. Where Ultimate Alliance really shines over Justice League Heroes is in the stronger focus on teamwork, not to mention a more impressive cast of villains. <Your team name here>, assemble! Game Informer (93/100) likes the new transparent rejuvenation system: "In this game, you no longer need to stock potions. When an enemy is slain, there's a chance that the fallen will gift you with a cluster of healing orbs that automatically zoom to your character. This change not only removes the clunky system of healing, it makes you feel more like a hero. Your focus is always on the battlefield, not a meter." GamePro (90/100) appreciates the challenging enemy AI: "The major boss battles are head and shoulders above anything you've seen in the past. The roster of villains changes with such frequency that you never get a chance to get sick of them. Stronger ones boast talents like healing and immunity to certain attacks, while others carry shields that force your active crew of four to work as a team." TeamXbox (88/100) was dazzled by the production quality: "The opening cinematic by Blur Studios is perhaps the finest I have witnessed in a videogame...but it's worth mentioning that the in-game footage cut scenes by Raven are no slouches either. Raven's in-game work is really nice too. Characters all have that comic book look, but have been updated to have their own edge. The backgrounds are just as sweet, flexing a bunch of post-production effects and lots of animations."
