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E308: An overview of Free Realms
At E3 we had a chance to sit down with Laralyn McWilliams, Lead Designer for SOE's upcoming Free Realms game, who gave us a demo of the game and talked about how it's changed since we saw it earlier this year at CES. For those of you who don't know what we're talking about (and since SOE doesn't yet have a web page for Free Realms, the game isn't exactly shouting itself from the rooftops), it's SOE's answer to the success of casual, free-to-play games targeted at kids, like Club Penguin, RuneScape, Webkinz. The result of their efforts? A game that provides players with endless possibilities: allowing them to level up without ever killing a monster (if that's what they want to do!), allows them to switch classes at any time with the click of a button, and provides players with an unprescidented amount of web integration, including mini-games that can be played in the game world or on the web.Of the MMOs we've seen at E3 this year, Free Realms is the closest to launch, with a beta scheduled for September and a launch scheduled for early 2009. (For those of you wanting in on the beta, attending Fan Faire this year will be a sure way to get in to closed beta.) Curious yet? Let's take a look at the world of Free Realms.%Gallery-27758%%Gallery-27753%
E308: 'Open Party' system to encourage grouping in Warhammer Online
Our epic-level talk with Josh Drescher and Adam Gershowitz delved into a number of interesting topics. Warhammer Online is essentially feature complete, they said, and will offer players a level of UI customization we haven't seen in most previous MMOs. They also, interestingly, are working to take care of the looking for group problem with a new tactic: the Open Party. We've already learned how they plan to encourage players to collaborate through Public Quests, but this sounds like it's taking the boundary of solo and group play and stretching it to the breaking point ...Adam: Another major feature we wanted to make sure to mention was the Open Party system. It just went into the Beta in the last couple of weeks. The Open Party system is an extension of the Looking For Group system. We have a fully fleshed out LFG system, but the Open Party system is really kind of an easier, casual way to put a group together. What the Open Party does is, say I come into the game and I'm interesting in forming a group. I go ahead and start the system, and it puts me into a party of one. It immediately updates me on the UI to be available for other players. As players are running around the world, they're going to get notification that there are Open Parties with slots in the area. On our Beta server right now, in most areas, there's anywhere from four to something like eighteen Open Parties for any given area. When you look on the UI you'll see it shows how many people are in a group, as well as the exact distance you are from the party.
E308: Warhammer Online to feature fully customizable UI
We spoke earlier this week with Josh Drescher and Adam Gershowitz about the latest changes to Warhammer Online, and we were enthused to hear that the game will feature a fully customizable user interface. The developers were very forceful about what they did and didn't want to see from this component of the game - something you may have picked up on in our discussion of the Goblin Shaman earlier this year. Here's Adam Gershowitz talking about the game's custom tweaks:Adam: One thing you didn't see previously is our UI editor. The UI and layout editor we just put this in recently. It's a fully customizable UI and layout editor. It was one of the things we thought was really important to put into the game because one of the things everybody really hates is that mods break down when there is a patch. We're obviously going to support modding, but we want to make sure that even the newest player can come in and simply change their UI without having to get updates from the web. That's really where our UI concept came from. You can see here you can move things around, scale it however I want, we'll start putting rotation tools in pretty soon. Are you going to be interacting with the modding community in sort of an official capacity where you might highlight mods that are really worthwhile?Adam: I don't know what the UI mod team's plans are for sure? I know that's what they're currently doing in Beta and I imagine that relationship is going to continue into release.
WRUP: Stuck in a tin can edition
Well, by the time you all are getting your read on here, I'll be pretty close to being back at the home base. Once I get back to my usual blogging grounds, business will resume as normal around here. As it stands right now, E3 may have come and gone, but we still need to know what you all are playing this weekend!So, what will be spinning inside your Wii? What cart will you be rocking in your DS? How are you getting your game on this weekend?
WRUP: On a flight back from E3 edition
It's still technically Friday, for about a few more minutes. By this time, this blogger will be sound asleep and preparing for an early trip to LAX, to get on a jetplane back to anywhere that isn't E3. What do I have in my DS for the trip? A little bit of Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword. On my second playthrough, the game is still as fun as the first time.Who cares about that, though. In all honesty, I'll probably get 5 minutes in before totally falling asleep in the tiny tin can. What about you all, though? After the craziness of E3, can you even manage to sit still long enough to play a game? I imagine you're all probably far too busy spinning in your chairs with glee.
Impressions: Fat Princess
Click for high-resolution image. Chances are you've read rumblings about Fat Princess throughout the web. This surprise PSN game announced at E3 really came out of nowhere. While a title like Fat Princess may sound unappealing, rest assured that this has the potential to become a real multiplayer PSN hit.How do we describe Fat Princess? We like to think of it as Team Fortress meets Pikmin meets a high-carb diet. Ultimately, Fat Princess is simply a capture the flag game. However, the unique 2D presentation makes it rather surreal. The game supports up to a massive 32 players online, and the smart use of AI ensures that every battle you take online will be fun and exciting. You see, if you can't get all 32 players to play, or if someone drops out in the middle of a match, bots can quickly and transparantly take over. This way, every time you jump online, you'll have someone to play with.Although there are multiple modes of play, there is usually one ultimate goal in Fat Princess, and that's to capture an enemy's princess and take them back to your own base. Each team will be split to Red and Blue teams, and each side will clash throughout the battlefields. There are a number of hats each player can don, and each hat represents a certain class, which yields certain abilities and powers.
Valhalla Knights 2: more of the same
It's difficult to truly grasp the feel of an RPG in an environment like E3. There's just too much hustle and bustle, and there simply isn't enough time to get into the game. Perhaps we need more time with Valhalla Knights 2, but in our brief time with the title, it really felt like "more of the same." For RPG-starved PSP fans, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, the dated visuals and presentation certainly don't inspire.There is some hope, though. The trailer shows that there is an experienced staff working on this sequel. The original story is written by the scenario writer of Final Fantasy XII, Miwa Shoda. There's also new classes, monsters and co-operative play over Ad-Hoc. There are a lot of features to highlight -- but will that be enough to stand out in a library of other PSP RPGs?%Gallery-28079%
Post-E3 Wii Fanboy/Joystiq reader meetup in photos
Yeah dude, that's totally Mike Sylvester there at the meetup last night. Other surprise guests showed up, as well as tons and tons of readers (who, in turn, walked away with tons and tons of free swag). Overall, it was a great success. You wouldn't believe how fast pizza goes at a Joystiq meetup!For those of you who had to sit this one out, relive the fun by checking out our photo gallery below.%Gallery-28076%
Post-E3 DS Fanboy/Joystiq reader meetup in photos
First of all, thanks to everyone that managed to make it out to the party! There were a ridiculous amount of attendees, all of whom enjoyed some Call of Duty 4 on the PS3, Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Wii and copious amounts of Rock Band and Rock Band 2. It was a blast and, unsurprisingly, the massive piles of swag went fairly quick. It was a wonderful experience and it was a pleasure meeting all of you. Hopefully, we can do this again next year!For those of you who couldn't make it out there, check out the gallery below. Within, you'll even find a picture of our very own Mike Sylvester (of Revolutionary fame!). He's a local, so thanks to him, but mostly to all of you, for making it out!%Gallery-28073%
E308: Nintendo exec alludes to Wiimote refresh with built-in MotionPlus
Your Wiimotes might be outdated pretty soon, that is if Nintendo's Katsuya Eguchi is to be trusted. During a developer roundtable, he alluded to the possibility of a hardware refresh on the Wii's motion-sensitive controller, one that would include the new MotionPlus functionality, commenting "as to looking at whether or not it will be an attachment or built in - we're always looking at how hardware should evolve and where we should take it." He also added that "it's something we'll be looking at."Of course, there are several things to consider. For one, how much would it drive up the cost of the Wiimote? Secondly, how crappy would it be to have to (eventually) buy all new Wiimotes? Thirdly, until Nintendo shows off a killer app for the thing (as okay as Wii Sports Resort looks, it's definitely not a killer app), does anyone even care?[Via Engadget]
PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm
Click for high-resolution image. Namco Bandai's upcoming Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm is such a surprising treat. The PS3 exclusive has earned a lot of attention due to its fantastic graphics, but Ninja Storm features far more than just a pretty face. We had a chance to play a more expansive build at Namco Bandai's E3 booth, where we took a sneak peak at the game's elusive single player mode and got some hands-on time with the multiplayer.Naruto's adventure begins just like it does in the manga. A cool treat for fans will be the inclusion of both Japanese and English audio for the story. From the looks of things, all the dialogue in the game may be spoken. While the lip-syncing was very off, we're hoping it can be fixed before Naruto's upcoming holiday release. The adventure will have Naruto exploring the Hidden Leaf village, much like in the Xbox 360 Naruto game. He'll have to talk to various villagers to progress the story, unlock missions and goals. Surprisingly, the first PS3 Naruto game covers a lot of territory: we were told that the game's story will go all the way up to the Sasuke Retrieval arc.%Gallery-20717%
E308: Wii Fanboy bats-on with Mario Super Sluggers
Seeing as how the game has been out in Japan for quite some time now (and releasing here in little over a month), you've probably seen and heard all their is to Mario Super Sluggers. But, we'd be remiss if we didn't do our duty and sit down with the game and enjoy some time at the ballpark.%Gallery-24326%
E308: Dress up with Onechanbara
If there's one essential zombie-killing accessory that's often overlooked in survival guides, it's the feather boa. If you don't look good, you won't feel good, and if you don't feel good, you're not kicking a bunch of zombie ass. You can't argue with that; that's science. That's why Onechanbara is awesome: it represents a fusion of high fashion aesthetics and a dedication to efficient killing ... and it's all coming to you at a budget price. There's nothing more you can ask for, except screenshots, and hey! They're right here. %Gallery-28067%
Impressions: Valkyria Chronicles
Click for high-resolution image. Sega's upcoming Valkyria Chronicles has everything a PS3 fan could want: not only is is pretty, it sports a unique artstyle, innovative gameplay ... and it's exclusive to PS3. We stopped by the Sega booth at E3 and was treated to a fun experience that will attract strategy and shooting fans alike.The fundamentals of battle have us excited. Players must take out a swarm of enemy soldiers, and to do so they must be incredibly resourceful. Each turn grants players the ability to move characters around a map and attack enemies. Players must use each character's unique abilities wisely, as they only have a limited amount of turns to use before the enemies attack. For example, player may want to use a scout to move ahead forward and scout out enemy positions. Unlike other SRPGs, players have direct control over the characters they select; players will move the characters using the analog stick and must quickly find appropriate cover. Positioning is key: players will want to not only get a vantage over enemies, but they'll want to be in a position where return fire will not affect them.%Gallery-16979%
Team PlayStation goes Foo on Rock Band 2
Click for high resolution image. Did you make it to the Joystiq post-E3 super party? If not, you'll have missed a ton of swag that we gave away, not to mention seeing your favorite PlayStation-related bloggers and guests rocking out to Rock Band 2. Andrew Yoon, Jem Alexander, the PlayStation Blog's Jeff Rubenstein and Naughty Dog's Arne Meyer made up the Team PlayStation Band. Our song of choice? The Foo Fighters' Everlong. On medium. Yes, we're that awesome.Check out our gallery for more pictures from the session, including some sexy close ups for you to print out and cuddle.From left to right: Jem Alexander, Naughty Dog's Arne Meier, PS Blog's Jeff Rubenstein and Andrew Yoon.%Gallery-28064%
E308: Champions Online gameplay video
It's late in E3 week but we've still got plenty of goodness coming. We've got a fun tidbit from the folks at 2K games (Champions' new publisher), a brand new gameplay video for Champions Online. It doesn't have a lot of guidance as to what we're seeing onscreen, but we do get to see a lot of day-to-day style gameplay. Heroes fighting baddies is really what it's about, right? Join the likes of Sword Guy, Electro Man, and Desctro Dude (these names are guesses) as they take on the forces of VIPER and their multitudinous foes.Check below the cut for the full video, and let us know what you think. The game is about a year away from release and is already looking pretty darn good - are you as pumped as we are?
E308: Lock's Quest strategy goodies attack E3
After getting our hands on Lock's Quest, we've decided that tower defense fans need to take a look at this one (stay tuned for some impressions later!). While the trailer above doesn't do too great of a job of selling the game (sans the phrase "robot invaders"), gameplay clips make Lock's Quest look hectic and fun. Oh, and don't worry if you hated Drawn to Life, since that connection is just being played up by THQ for marketing hype.Check after the break to see what we're talking about in terms of gameplay. Oh, and hey, whaddya know -- there are new screens in the gallery, too. Make sure to give those a look before (or after) feasting your eyes on video goodness.%Gallery-19901%
E308 X3F Sticker Gallery: The final entry
With E3 2008 coming to a welcomed end (it was fun while it lasted), so too comes the end of our official E308 X3F Sticker Gallery. During our stay in LA this week, we were able to tag 35+ industry developers, producers, PR folks and pretty much anyone that was willing to get tagged. It was entertaining, a source of free advertising and, darnit, we had fun doing it. Thanks to all the folks who were willing to play along with the sticker fun, especially those who slapped a sticker on their forehead or mouth. Too cool.Anyway, we just uploaded another batch (the final batch) of X3F sticker photos including Dead Space producer Chuck Beaver, Mirror's Edge's own Nick Channon, the SouthPeak crew as well as the one, Joystiq's only, our main boss guy who keeps us employed ... CHRIS GRANT! Oh, and don't mind the pic quality. We had to use our cell phone camera due to a digital camera going MIA for a bit. Anyhoo, long live the X3F stickering.
Famed Nintendo designer Miyamoto checks out Killzone 2
Nintendo's famed game designer Shigeru Miyamoto may be known for his involvement in casual games, such as Wii Sports and Nintendogs. But, let's not forget his involvement in hardcore series, such as the original Mario and Zelda games. It looks like he made his way over to Sony's E3 show floor and checked out Killzone 2. Considering the amount of hype Guerrilla's FPS has received, we aren't surprised that a man like him would take some time to see what the PS3 is capable of doing. We wonder if he walked away impressed. [Thanks, Fernando R.!]
E308: Onechanbara ogled
D3 showed off an early version of Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers in their conference room. And by "early version of Bikini Zombie Slayers," I mean "final Japanese version of Onechanbara Revolution." The retail game. Even so, I wasn't allowed to play it! Isn't that weird? And not in the funny, campy way that Onechanbara is usually weird. I did get to watch the game in motion, and found the visual upgrade over the PS2 version impressive. Apparently the price is getting a downgrade from the Japanese release: the D3 rep said that while they had yet to set a price point, it'll be marketed as a budget game. D3 also had the costumes from the Onechanbara movie in their booth -- all four square inches or so of costume. I did geek out a bit.
