The Gameodactyl at E3: Part 1 of 2
Sup gentlemen and ladies.
I'm currently sitting in a "bloggers' lounge" (fitting area) to write this update, from the South Hall of the convention center. It's been a wild week, and there's still a full day to go.
Gameosaurus got lots of opportunity to get the name out there. We spent time with Capcom and checked out fighting games such as TATSUNOKO VS CAPCOM, the full PSN version of MARVEL VS CAPCOM 2, STREET FIGHTER IV (PC), and FATE/UNLIMITED CODES (downloadable PSP title). One piece of good news for PC gamers: the limited edition bundle of Street Fighter IV comes with a sweet USB MadCatz pad with a Street Fighter IV skin/design (pics coming soon). If you think your PC can handle the game, you'll definitely want to pick it up.
Over at Square Enix, it seems they're trying to shy away from their "we are the RPG powerhouse" vibe. They have a game developed by Cavia (DRAKENGARD series) called NIER, and the producer I met with was adamant in saying that the game is an action adventure, and not an RPG... even though, he also says, it has plenty of "RPG elements." There were also behind-closed-doors demos of games like FRONT MISSION EVOLVED, which is a third-person shooter being developed by Double Helix. It's a departure for the Strategy RPG series, but it may yet be a great game. It's too early for the 'saurs to know for sure. Square Enix is also publishing SUPREME COMMANDER 2 (an RTS from Gas-Powered Games, 360 & PC) and ORDER OF WAR (a WWII title ... from Square Enix? wtf?).
I infiltrated MTV Games / Harmonix to play ROCK BAND UNPLUGGED (PSP) and THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND (PS3/360). The former is a frantic, almost WarioWare-esque game where you are forced, as the single player, to switch from one instrument to another every few measures to keep everything going. It's only single-player at this point (wtf?), but as a basic rhythm game, it's actually a fair bit of challenging fun. Having to constantly switch from drums to vocals to bass to guitar, in whatever order you wish, but without missing a note, is a new way to approach the genre. As for The Beatles? It's the Beatles. The real surprise is that they even got publishing rights to the music. The story behind this is very interesting (and is detailed at OSV ... *wink*).
We'll have plenty more impressions from the show floor, including plenty of pictures, later in the week. Our next Podcast (Jurassic Radio Ep. 5) will also be rather E3-centric, and you'll hear us praise/bash things like Microsoft's Project Natal, Nintendo's apology for last year's press conference (in the form of many, many franchise favorites making their glorious returns), FINAL FANTASY XIV, and more.
Gameodactyl, signing out.