E3 and QuakeCon 2011

E3 2011 and QuakeCon 2011 Highlights



E3 Announcement: BioShock Infinite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSCswCg-9gk 

That particular trailer is silly, but it references the original game, and shows some of the floating city of Columbia.

Developed by the same team as the original, BioShcok Infinte returns to steam punk with a 1930's city that floats on balloons, connected by a roller coaster style transit system.  Combat does take place on said transit.  Like previous games, there are plasmid powers in addition to standard weapons.

I'm excited about this game (even though the modified Unreal Engine 2.5 is dated) because of a particular announcement by the developers.  Paraphrased, they're not focused on a multilayer game format.  They'll include one if it's really good.  The fans of BioShock want to play by themselves.  My hat to you on that, 2K Games.  Relase date of 2012.


E3 Announcement: Prey 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h2TkpFEsn8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h2TkpFEsn8

The trailer looks like a cut-scene, backed by a Johnny Cash rendition of Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage."  As far as plot, did you play Prey?  You know the plane that crashed?  You're a lawman from that plane, with amnesia, working as a bounty hunter on an alien planet.

This game will not feature gravity and/or portal puzzles, because, paraphrased, "Human
Head Studios already made that game."  Respect.  Due in March 2012.


Quakecon Announcement: RAGE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm1FOnSbHXA

This is the new id Tech 5 graphics engine.  I think it's looks fucking awesome.  I'm excited abuot this game too (due out this fall).

As far as plot, do you remember the Near Earth Asteroid named Apophis?  It once had a small chance to destroy Earth, and later was refined to be a non-issue.  In RAGE, it hit.  Some survived in Arks.  Everyone else died, struggled to survive, or mutated in to something else.

This game looks amazing, they have voice talent including John Candy, and id Software has never let me down.  I want to marry this game.


Quakecon Announcement: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Elder Scrolls IV wasn't great, but then Bethesda made Fallout 3.  Skyrim simplifies some things, adds perks, runs on the new Creation Engine (hopefully less buggy than Gamebryo), features more distinct environments/landscape, and has dragons.  Due date of 11-11-11.  I won't buy it then, but I'd certainly consider it when it goes down in price.


Other Games This Year

Crysis 2 is out, so is Alice: Madness Returns and FEAR 3.  As the first Alice was dated, and FEAR 3 has a different developer than other FEAR games, I'm only looking forward to Crysis 2 (no longer available on Steam; EA is trying their own download-distribution application).  Serious Sam 3 is due out "this summer," but with rather poor graphics I don't think the *likely* difficult/old-school gameplay will make a success. 

Valve Software made no announcements about a new Half-Life game this year.  The last instllament, Half Life 2: Episode 2, came out five years ago.  Valve has abandoned it's half-ass episodic release concept. 

But it's ok.  They continue their constant dicking around with Team Fortress 2 (endless dicking).  Portal 2 is only half-playable alone.  Further titles may not be solely playable alone.  FUCK YOU VALVE.  FUCK YOU IN THE NUTS WITH A PITCHFORK ON FIRE.

I waited for you, Valve.  For years.  You came back to me just to punch me in the face.

I will never buy another Valve Software title.


Nonetheless, it's an exciting time for fans of shooters.  We've got games out and games upcoming. 

Rejoice.