By John Walker on June 5th, 2009.
I want to say something else, I want to bring you messages of cheer, tell you about so many of the great games I’ve seen, and prove that I’m not just an whining baby. But I am so tired. My eyes are bleary, my face is bleary, my entire being is bleary. This is the important message of E3: it makes you tired. But I will do other things than complain below! Nothing useful, of course.
By Kieron Gillen on June 5th, 2009.
Emerging from a cloud of dust of E3 is the sound of horse-feet. Hooves. That’s the word, hooves. Sorry – it’s early. As you’ll hopefully be aware, RPS-fave Mount & Blade is getting an expansion. In terms of features they revealed at E3, we’re talking about fancier graphics with redone models and – er – graphic effects I can’t be bothered listing and now 64 player multiplayer (with game modes including team death match and the iggy-pop-inspired Search & Destroy. Worth noting it’s more than just a MP expansion too – the SP will have the ability to become a faction ruler and force people to become your vassals, in a manner akin to how Jim rules RPS. Also, Soldier Morale, adding proper cowards. Run! Run from my horse feet. Er… gameplay trailer beneath the cut.
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By Jim Rossignol on June 5th, 2009.
“More variety” seems to be the mantra uttered by the Assassin’s Creed II development team, and we get to see some of that variety in this new walkthrough. It’s the bulk of an entire assassination sequence from the game, and possibly one of the high points, so beware spoilers if you’re definitely going to buy into the dude-slaying sequel. Venice certainly looks impressive, and hopefully the new game will give you a little more freedom to make the most of that enormous cityscape. I hope “more variety” somehow also translates into “fewer cutscenes”, but perhaps that’s expecting too much.
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By John Walker on June 5th, 2009.
Yesterday I mentioned that there had been two games at E3 this week that had made me laugh out loud at their scale and audacity. The first was Just Cause 2, the second was Kaos Studios‘ Homefront. The first thing you’ll read about Homefront anywhere is that it’s written by John Milius, the screenwriter behind Red Dawn and Apocalypse Now. But let’s not forget he also wrote and directed Conan The Barbarian. It would be inappropriate to do otherwise. Anyhow, the more important thing to know about it is the Goliath armoured vehicle that accompanies you for much of the game.
By Kieron Gillen on June 4th, 2009.
Chess was invented in 1959 by Mr Chess. It’s quite the game.
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By Kieron Gillen on June 4th, 2009.
As the blessed few who pay attention to bylines will know, I’ve been away for the last week on the Greek Isle of Hydra. I’ve played no videogames. I have, however, played games. My Lady and I, confused at a pre-dawn airport, picked up a 7-in-1 WH Smiths Magnetic Board game set. Between attempting to encourage the sun to alter our pigmentation, we played through the lot. And looking at games I mostly haven’t touched since childhood with my adult’s appreciation got me thinking that writing RPS’ most expansive review of all time for a cheap-ass magnetic box-set would be a suitable vessel to hold some assorted observations on the form. Also, amusing overkill.
I’m putting this explanation in its own post as i) it’ll be renovated into a title post when they’re all done and ii) I don’t want to messy up the individual posts with an introduction. Natch. So let’s… go.
By John Walker on June 4th, 2009.
I’m by far not the first to make this point, but the most extraordinary thing about being at E3 is you’ve absolutely no idea what’s going on at E3. If you want to know every announcement, every new game, every surprise revelation, then stay at home and refresh your favourite rolling news site. The last place you want to be is in the convention. The last place my feet want to be is in the convention. Once more I bring you my wholly unhelpful observations on E3. (Oh, and people demanded pictures, so included are two of the best you’ll ever see).
By John Walker on June 4th, 2009.
There have been two games that have made me laugh out loud at their sheer audacity during this E3, and one of them is Just Cause 2. You may remember that the original game from Avalanche in 2006, as famous for its infinite parachutes as it was for having an entire island to explore as you wished. There were some who found the unrealistic nature of endlessly spawning parachutes to be offputting. Ho boy, they’re not going to like Just Cause 2! Because, cor, it’s even more ludicrous.
By John Walker on June 4th, 2009.
There has been, it seems, something of a fuss over the announcement from Valve that they’re releasing a sequel to Left 4 Dead this November. The main point of contention has been that many were expecting more new content to be added to the original game, rather than appearing in the form of a full price sequel. This was underlined when an article on VideoGamer was rediscovered in which Valve boss Gabe Newell stated, “So we’ll do the same thing with Left 4 Dead where we’ll have the initial release and then we’ll release more movies, more characters, more weapons, unlockables, achievements, because that’s the way you continue to grow a community over time.”
We spoke to Valve’s VP of marketing, Doug Lombardi, to ask him about the player response. He talks to us about the reasons why L4D2 is a full sequel, why gamers should wait to find out more about the game before making up their minds, and how there are definitely still plans for the original Left 4 Dead.
By John Walker on June 4th, 2009.
We’ve finally seen Borderlands running. And how. The new graphical overhaul has received a lot of attention, but so far only been seen in screenshots (and the very brief glimpses in this trailer). It’s good news to report that it looks even more splendid when it’s moving. The concept-art-as-graphics design has completely won us over. But what about the game itself?
By John Walker on June 4th, 2009.
A couple of months ago we brought you lots of information about 2K Czech’s forthcoming Mafia II. A new mission has been demoed at E3, this time one set near the beginning of the game in February 1945, so it’s time to tell you some more. (You can see some clips of it in the trailer released this week.) The war’s still raging, and Vito Scalleta was recently back from Europe, flat broke, looking to get himself some well paid work. Hello the mob. By the start of this mission, called The Buzzsaw, Vito’s already met his buddy Joe, along with Italian immigrant Henry, both acting as his wingmen. It’s time to go kill the Fat Man.
