What's everyone looking forward to hear from E3? I'm waiting to hear about this new SSB, apparently for the (Wii U, I think it was called?)

I was a bit down since they didn't show Final Fantasy Type-0, but I was happy they showed the new Tomb Raider game with some slick gameplay. Some gameplay from Final Fantasy XIII-2, which was okay I suppose.

Other than that, E3 wasn't that bad this year. :)

For the guys
8-I0FcZ4P2w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-I0FcZ4P2w

I was a bit down since they didn't show Final Fantasy Type-0, but I was happy they showed the new Tomb Raider game with some slick gameplay. Some gameplay from Final Fantasy XIII-2, which was okay I suppose.

Other than that, E3 wasn't that bad this year. :)

Just saw the Type-0 trailer. That's a must-have now, lol.


For the guys
8-I0FcZ4P2w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-I0FcZ4P2w

Hell yes.

E3 2011... to be honest, I've stopped looking forward to E3 conventions and hearing about what's going to be coming out in Fall, or that is in the works.

Call me a traditionalist, or even "old," but I'm getting tired of 1) fancy new graphics 2) movie-like concepts 3) motion sensor controllers 4) less emphasis on actually CHALLENGING games.

Maybe this isn't the place for this little rant that I'm about to go on, but I just can't let these things go unnoticed: (and it's put in a spoiler...because this MAY be off-topic)



1) Fancy New Graphics -- How can someone say that they are getting tired of fancy new graphics? This doesn't mean I don't like fancy new graphics, in fact, I love it when studios put a lot of time on fine-tuning the game and making it look amazing; it adds to the experience and the enjoyment -- it's one part of the equation that gives it it's "awe-factor." But let's look at something there, "it's one part of the equation..." Now, this is just completely my opinion (and observation) and I have no actual facts from each video-game studio in the world, but it seems like the fraction of time it took to work on the "look" of the game goes 250%+ than anything else, namely gameplay and "logical playstyle." One of the most anticipated games for a long time was the new Gran Turismo [5]. My brother had gotten it, and I played it with him right away. It is an amazing thing to watch, and you get sucked into how great it looks... but once you start playing it for more than 20 minutes, it feels... boring. I'm all for racing simulators, I actually like them a lot, but there comes a time when the look of the game has gone above all priorities. Not to mention that the system to unlocking cars has to be the most frustrating thing ever (actually HOPING that the car you want to buy shows up in the shop more than ONCE in a blue moon...). Anyway, this isn't about GT5. I would like to go into more detail about other games, but I'll leave it at this one.

2) Movie-like Concepts -- This one also could be said for GT5, since it's incredible beautiful to watch... and just to watch. Last year I bought the new Battlefield: Bad Company 2 game for PC, a good chunk of $60 gone from my pocket. The multiplayer was actually fun (but like all MP shooters... you need teamwork, unless you're able to kill 1,000 people without taking a hit, EVER), and the graphics were superb. To my surprise, the singleplayer campaign wasn't too bad. The only thing I liked about it though was that it had a well-written story, at least to me it was. The levels were fairly short, and the videos in-between levels seemed to be as long, IF NOT LONGER, than the actual gameplay. And the actual gameplay? Well, it was nothing more inventive than back in the Goldeneye days of the late 90s. You go around to different places, and you kill enemies. I think I'm actually going to tie this one into my last quarry, 4) Less Emphasis on actually CHALLENGING games -- B:BC2's story was great, but the gameplay was boring and mechanical. I beat it on the absolute hardest level, and to no avail it wasn't anywhere near to the level of how difficult and challenging the firs God of War was. Yes, they're two different "kinds" of games, but let's get something straight: your objective is to kill enemies in both of these games. When all I have to do is make sure I take my pace slow, and hold my mouse at just the right spot, I can walk through any FPS singleplayer game, and not to mention it's not that difficult to master any other FPS game in general (they're starting to become as mundane as Madden and NBA games). However, with God of War, there isn't a pattern you can just *learn* in the gameplay. You were always tested to the highest extent of your concentration and even your creativity to fighting all different kinds of incredibly different and difficult monsters (does anyone remember the easy patter, but hard-to-execute monster in the temple of Hades? Yeah, exactly). To be honest with everyone here, gaming companies have gone lazy on us when it comes to giving an actual challenge, because now that multiplayer gaming is so incredibly common, they leave it to the people who play the game against each other to make it difficult and challenging. Which is nice, but at the same time, it's boring and frustrating when hackers stop by, the constant cheap this-and-that weapon, and when player's cries for balancing something that NEEDS to be looked at just never get answered.

This is why I play League of Legends. Their entire concentration is on making the game 400%+ strategically based (or any "MOBA" for that matter) and having to coordinate with your team in order to bring victory. It is constantly updated, there's a noticeable patch upgrade made every ~2 weeks, and it merges the new mindset of making the community of players make the game challenging and difficult, but also not completely relying on them as well. The game has limitations, naturally, and you don't have to just think about what you have to do in theory quickly, but also be able to execute it against other intelligent people. This game, as a whole, is the prime example of a pure "Gamer's Game" of today. No, it doesn't have INCREDIBLE graphics, and there are absolutely NO cutscenes (or singleplayer, which I should add), but you know what? I've been playing this game nearly everyday (from 1 to even 14 hours on days when I am able to waste THAT much time) since early February, and have not gotten tired or a hint of bored with it. That's because the gameplay is there, and it's challenging.

Go back and try to play the first Megaman (or bust out your pirated emulator, which I'm sure everyone has these days). You'll be surprised at how bad you've become at those side-scrolling games. I used to be able to stomp the classic Donkey Kong Kountry games, and even though I was a bit rusty at them, even with my knowledge of them I was still being challenged 10x more than any other "new" game that I've played heavily or was introduced to for a short time.

I know I could have also added my third topic, Motion-Sensor Controllers, in with the last segment, but... it wasn't. Anyway, I'm sick of these new "gimmicks" that are coming out, and are apparently continuing to come out. It's great that Nintendo is finally able to perfect what they've been working on since, essentially, the Nintendo "GUN" and all those other motion-esque controllers from the late 80s and early 90s (super-scope, power-glove... there's a million of them... I'm sure you'll laugh at them when you look some of them up too). Continuing on, a great example is Zelda: Twilight Princess. Now, I was incredibly happy to know that there was going to be a GC version of this released back when I was a (yikes) Freshman in high school, because I didn't have enough money for the Wii, and because... why would I want to play an 60+ hour game which requires a lot of sword slashing, arrow shooting and other nonsense to be done with my arms? Not going to happen. Now, I beat the game twice (getting everything) and was content not using a Wii-mote. When I actually tried playing the game at a friend's house, just to "try it," I hated it after about an hour of gameplay. Sure, my friend was amazed how far I got within an hour's time, but I didn't want the damn workout that Link was getting as well on the screen, and I would have gotten more progress if I was able to move the way I wanted to. Anyway, the whole motion-sensor thing doesn't really bother me as much as the last few topics, but it's getting old for me. I am not amazed by things which you move your arms about and such. However, watching some of the Xbox Kinect (or however they spell it) hacks are really cool (check those out, btw).

Since I mentioned Twilight Princess, I need to go back for a second about challenge, and even introduce something else, 5) WAY TOO MUCH CONTENT, DAMNIT!! -- Okay, saying that statement about a Zelda game looks mighty awful, especially coming from somebody who worships the games like some sort of cult religion (*ehem*) but as awesomely enjoyable as the story was (11/10) and the actually fun gameplay and collectibles and side-quests and... I loved about 90% of this game. But... the challenge was all in being able to keep a keen nose and think a *little* bit outside the box when it came to finding things. Sure, like all Zelda games, there are those mini-games which frustrate the piss out of you, but this one didn't have anything that was more challenging than the Fire Temple from OoT, or even the boss battles themselves. In fact, the easiest part about each temple WERE the boss battles themselves. You were able to learn the "pattern" right away, and then... basically do some easy movements and you've got yourself another full-heart piece to cherish. I don't want to make this sound like a review, but what happened to those battles like in the Spirit Temple? Or the water level from Majora's Mask, not to mention how IRRITATINGLY difficult that boss is?! And speaking of water levels... WHERE WAS MY IMPOSSIBLY UN-LOGICAL WATER TEMPLE LEVEL? Okay, okay.. I guess because I'm talking about Zelda here I get a little more frustrated about seeing this trends in the curve of difficulty in games.

There's not much of a conclusion, since now I have to go to work. Anyway, I hope more comes from E3 that will actually... make me smile like a happy clam. :)

@Maze: No way. The wii controls were definitely way better than the GC controls. The inventory was so fast, and shooting the bow was god-like compared to the old analog controls. I won't share my full thoughts on the fact that wiggling your wrist around to swing the sword in that game was enough to get you tired, because I love you. Suffice to say I didn't even notice that "problem." =P

Also, did you see the Zelda tech demo they showed at e3 this year? It was gorgeous! =D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9uYCU8jFiU
Graphics aren't everything, but Skyward Sword is finally using a full orchestra for its soundtrack, instead of the usual synths, and this tech demo looks amazing, so I'm very happy. Can't wait to play a Zelda game that looks and sounds as good as it plays! XD

I agree that Twilight Princess was too easy. I really wish Nintendo would just implement a simple difficulty system for their games. High level monsters should be taking like five hearts away from me, not A QUARTER OF A HEART. You were pretty much invincible by the end of Twilight Princess, which was incredibly annoying. The game got EASIER as you went on, which is inexcusable. Apparently Miyamoto has very high hopes for Skyward Sword, though, so that's great. He was quoted a few days ago saying that if Skyward Sword wasn't the best Zelda game ever made, he wouldn't be touching the franchise ever again. So that's reassuring, at least.

For the guys
8-I0FcZ4P2w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-I0FcZ4P2w

Hell YES! \o/