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ArenaNet releases new Guild Wars 2 concept art slideshow
If you were one of the lucky fans who attended the Guild Wars 2 panel at New York Comic Con, you were treated to a slideshow of typically beautiful concept art. Those of us who did not attend get to share that privilege now, thanks to ArenaNet. The developers have set the slideshow to music and released it as an HD video. The slideshow encompasses art from all five playable races, and the variety of images shown may well make an extra viewing or two worthwhile. The video includes everything from sweeping landscapes and huge vehicles to armor details and small household items. In between are creatures, armor sets, interiors, and much more. Follow along after the jump to see for yourself!
Captain's Log: Socializing and the quiet of space in STO
The Star Trek universe caters to a whole lot of different interests. You've got your basic sci-fi fan, who enjoys the shows and movies but doesn't get super into them. You've also got your movie buffs, who perk up for showings of Wrath of Khan or Nemesis (ha!). Futurists marvel at the prophetic nature of old-school Trek tech, and casual fans used to flip on the boob tube to scope out Seven of Nine's ram scoops. And of course, Star Trek has its die-hard fans, the Trekkers. (What's wrong with calling them "Trekkies," again?) I noticed a handful at New York Comic Con, traipsing about in their uniforms, snapping group pictures, scanning the Anime Festival next door for signs of intelligent life. And that got me to thinking about socializing in Star Trek Online. Why is it often so lonely in space?
Video: Capcom's Mega Man Legends 3 panel at New York Comic-Con
Thanks to this video after the break, you can (virtually) be there at the New York Comic-Con to experience Keiji Inafune's surprise reveal of Mega Man Legends 3 Project for yourself. Inafune asks the audience to help design the rocket to rescue Mega Man from Elysium (where he was stranded at the end of Mega Man Legends 2), introduces the semi-democratic design process Capcom is trying out, and even ... puts out a "help wanted" sign. If you love Mega Man, read fluent Japanese, and want to live in San Mateo, CA, you could be Capcom's Developer Room Liaison! It would be a nice way to pick up some money for a 3DS, at least.
NYCC 2010: Interview with DCUO's Jim Lee and Mark Anderson
DC Universe Online was all over New York Comic Con. The folks at Sony Online Entertainment presented a playable demo on the show floor, an info-laden panel highlighting character creation and a super-exclusive fan event with 500 of DCUO's biggest fans. Before the fan event got popping, Massively enjoyed the opportunity to sit down with comics legend Jim Lee and DCUO Art Director Mark Anderson. Lee, co-publisher of DC Comics and executive creative director of DCUO, and Anderson shared some special insights into the game's development. Conversation ranged from DCUO's similarity to Grand Theft Auto to Lee's introduction to the MMO genre.
NYCC 2010: DCUO's Q&A panel and fan event
The gods of New York Comic Con smiled upon Detective Comics fans and MMO junkies alike this weekend, as DC Universe Online kicked butt and took questions at not one, but a senses-shattering two Q&A sessions on Saturday. Conventioneers enjoyed a glimpse into the character-creation process at the "Creating the Next Legend Panel," and then Sony Online Entertainment invited fans to a special Q&A event afterward. And I would not be exaggerating if I said the audience reaction was riotously positive. Executive Creative Director Jim Lee, Creative Director Chris Cao and Art Director Mark Anderson shared details and fielded dozens of questions about the DC-based MMO at both events. Discussion ranged from costume creation to endgame content to the game's recent delay to early 2011.
Tron: Evolution soundtrack features Daft Punk, original music
Ever since we first heard that Daft Punk would be creating the soundtrack for Tron: Legacy (the upcoming film from Disney), we've been hoping that music from our favorite French space aliens would make its way to Tron: Evolution, the game tie-in from Propaganda Games. In a panel at New York Comic Con this weekend, Disney Interactive senior PR manager Eric Wein confirmed as much, answering a fan's question on the subject by saying, "We haven't announced details for the soundtrack, we will soon. We can tell you it'll be a combination of the film's soundtrack and some unique, original music." We'll be holding our breath in anticipation for that forthcoming full soundtrack announcement and, of course, playing lots of DJ Hero.
NYCC 2010: Our interview with FFXIV's Sage Sundi and Yasu Kurosawa
If there were an award for the most controversial game on Massively, that award would probably have to go to Final Fantasy XIV. It's a game with a very different approach to many of the elements that are considered de rigueur for MMOs, which has produced a great deal of affection from some players, a great deal of enmity from others, and a flamewar that burgeons in nearly any thread about even the most innocuous news. I had a chance to sit down at New York Comic Con with Sage Sundi, FFXIV's global online producer, and Yasu Kurosawa, FFXIV's North American online producer. It was certainly an interesting experience to chat with two of the people responsible in no small part for one of my personal favorite games, but both gentlemen were very polite to discuss the game, its worldwide community, and what lessons had been learned already from launch.
NYCC 2010: The City of Heroes Issue 19 panel
It's the end of the convention season, and City of Heroes fans on the East Coast managed to get one last treat -- another chance with the development team that had long been anchored firmly on the other side of the country. The team's panel in March at PAX East saw the revelation of several new facts about the game, including the first announcement of Kinetic Melee and Electric Control, and the panel that closes out the year at New York Comic Con contained several interesting new facts as well. Melissa Bianco, David Nakayama, and Jesse Caceres were all in attendance, with the panel overseen by community representative Tia Parurahi. With Going Rogue having been out for nearly two months, this panel focused on the upcoming Issue 19 and what the changes mean for the game, as well as how much the development team is ramping up production to improve the game all around.
The Daily Grind: Got cons?
So the New York Comic Con is in full swing, and the fact that it's here already reminds us of just how many game-related cons there are scattered throughout the calendar year. Whether it's NYCC, Dragon Con, E3, GDC, or the various flavors of PAX, there always seems to be something just around the corner that calls for hotel reservations and airline tickets. More often than not, the next convention on the circuit sneaks right up on us before we manage to shake the jet lag from the last one. While we'd like nothing better than to shirk responsibilities and tour the world of gaming and pop culture conventions for a year, work must occasionally intrude, and most of us have to pick and choose our events. What about you Massively readers? Did you attend NYCC this weekend, and are you a regular on the gaming convention circuit? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our 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 The Daily Grind!
Halo franchise roadmap includes new trilogies and film, transmedia campaign reveals
During a panel last night at the New York Comic Con, transmedia company Starlight Runner -- a business that helps plan cross-media campaigns for various properties, including Microsoft's Halo franchise -- gave a presentation on its work. Among the slides shown, company president and CEO Jeff Gomez previewed one that gave the audience a look at the future of Halo: two new trilogies starting in 2012/2013 with a major motion picture set for release by 2014. Update: Microsoft representative Ryan James contacted Joystiq to say, "We worked with Starlight in the past, but the info isn't an accurate representation of our plans for the Halo franchise." Starlight Runner have yet to issue any official comment on the news. [Thanks Steven!]
DC Direct's NY Comic Con offerings full of gaming all-stars
Wondering what those announced, but mostly unseen DC Direct gaming figures look like? We spotted them this morning at the NY Comic Con, casually posing in a glass case. Most of the items aren't for sale until later this year -- we might find that more troubling if it weren't bank account depletion season (read: Q4).%Gallery-104665%
Guild Wars 2 making an appearance at New York Comic Con
If Germany and Seattle were just too far away, you may be disappointed that you haven't gotten to experience the Guild Wars 2 demo yet. You can cheer up, because ArenaNet announced last night that it's taking its show on the road and heading for the east coast. ArenaNet will be at New York Comic Con, hosting a Guild Wars 2 panel titled Building a Better MMO. Even better, the developers will be hosting a meet-and-greet that includes a few GW2 demo stations. Massively will be there to bring you all the latest MMO news, and we're sure you are just as excited as we are for the next demo of Guild Wars 2. More details are still to come regarding the time and location of Friday night's meet-and-greet, so keep your eye on the ArenaNet blog for the next announcement.
