E3 2014: Bioware - Mass Effect 4

Most wasn't expecting any news on Mass Effect at E3, Would be foolish of EA and Bioware to show off the bigger of their two RPG series just before the smaller's release. But! we got something!

Yep we got a "conceptual prototype" look at Mass Effect 4 featuring an all new character. His race is unknown right now but considering his shape and N7 Armour think it's safe to say he's human.

apprently the thing fans wanted most of ME4 was to move on with a new story, ME4's story will head to a brand new part of the galaxy, and that it will allow new heroes to explore and discover an entirely new story that is different from Shepard’s now concluded adventure. so here's hoping no geth and or reapers.

There should hopefully be a Bioware video soon, where they will also talk about their new IP.... ooooh

E3 2014: Microsoft round up

well here is all that went down at Microsoft's press show, Warning most content was videos and quite detail light

Happy Wars comes to Xbox One
Happy Wars was the 360's first Free To Play game and it appears to be getting an "new version" for X1 it's unknown if this is an enhanced port or sequel.

Sunset Overdrive gets a new trailer
the SO guys enjoy taking a swing at your standard cover shooter.
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Achievement App Improvements
The achievement app will now be snapable (no more returning to home), sortable (those get 9 million kill achievements can sits up back till their ready) and now you can get help with any troublesome achievements via an in built hints and tips system.

Assassins Creed gets Co-op
Not too much details was given but the video implied story elements will be involved unlike the "simulation" co-op mode Wolf Pack from the last 2 titles. [I think it'll be playable Brotherhood missions - Abe]

Tomb Raider 2!
An great new trailer appeared for Tomb Raider that really set the tone for the new game, with the trailer being narrated by Lara's Psychotherapist. [I am unhappy with the name "Rise of The Tomb Raider" - Abe]

"Cult" classic Original Xbox game gets reboot
NOPE its not ANYTHING you was thinking of. Its Phantom Dust a "classic" game that apparently Ninja'd past me as I was playing Halo and PSO

Speaking of Halo...
Halo Master Chief Collection was announced (SHOCK!). The pack will feature 1080p 60FPS, dedicated servers across all four games all housed in the one mega game. Halo 1 and " are full remasters where as 3 and 4 are ports. Every multiplayer map for every halo game is present and playable in their original engines. The Mega-Game term i mentioned (Which I game up with - Abe) means all four games are simply parts of the larger game, as such you'll be able to set up playlist of your favourite halo levels across all four games.

The collection will also come with the Halo Nightfall digital series and Halo 5 beta.

Halo 5 got a light trailer with what appears to be the arbiter teaching the new character from the box art.


PlayDead (limbo) new game
the people who brought us Limbo are bringing us another moody puzzle platformer called "Inside"

Crackdown 3!
crackdown 3 was finally announced and looked... well like Crackdown. Looks like the agents are gunning after an new city (finally). If the trailer is anything to go buy you'll be able to kill gang leaders by launching a rooftop into a building by sniping a mine, on a truck, that was launched of a ramp, that was building you knocked down.

Platinum's Exclusive game
Again not much to go on but in the trailer, the protagonist dons a pair of earphones, vaults into the heavens and executes a monster with a single swordblow. It looks like you'll have a partner dragon too.
It's called ScaleBound so i suspect your character is shrunk.

Forza!
Forza horrizon 2 looks very pretty and Forza 5 get the track Nurburgring NOW!
Evolve!
Evolve developers seem to thankful for left 4 Deads shot on 360 and have rewarded Ms with early beta access and exclusive DLC. They also showed off their second beast. this one is a flying electric monster (NOT Zapdos or King Gidora)

Dragon Age gets trailer!
Which we have!


Also is that Morrigon on the left?

Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus Alpha Announced

Yeas the title of this is Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus Alpha. man Capcom know how to take the piss out of it's self. This DLC is a 4 player co-op celebration of Capcom 30th +1 anniversary. You'll be able to play as all sorts of dead rising regulars and others from cacpom's history. we saw Ryu, Dinosaurs, an Akuma mask and the title Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus Alpha.... also SUDR3ARHEEXPA..... is available now!


Fable Legends gets gameplay trailer


Yep we have this one too. We get to see some combat, some evil dooings and hear please regional accents

Conkers BACK...
...In project spark... which is getting CO-OP creation, CO-OP story and space themes

RIGHT I think that's about it for now, We'll get back to you as we find more! Overall was a rather by the book show, wasn't many surprises thanks to the vast amount of leaks before E3. I was glade to see alot of ONLY FOR XBOX ONE, Maybe this New generation can finally get started

RUMOUR: Mario Maker at E3

Well it's that time of year again, as E3 approaches workers are currently busy building the event's booths ready for the media and public next week, but also taking pictures on the camera phones. Naughty.

Nintendo is probably the most secretive of the gaming community and usually has very few leaks and when they do it tends to be this time of year as third parties (set builders) get involved in E3.

Today's leak comes from what appears to be a low-res photo of Nintendo's booth at E3, Showing something called "Mario Maker" this is all we know but judging from the picture it looks like a Wii U game (the stylus) and seems to be a level editor (or an "art" style program but we're hoping for the former). I doubt we'll get any confirmation of this title before E3. 

Abe's Take

Custom stages have been something players have been asking for a while now. I'm not 100% sure on it myself as the quality of Nintendo work is so high. 

I did have an interesting idea. Nintendo will be talking about their NFC figure platform at E3 and apparently the figures will work across multiple games and systems. What if Mario maker is an App where you can make levels for Mario 3D world, New U and Mario Kart 8 and save your content on the figure? seems wildly impracticable considering the digital age we live in but this in Nintendo and they dont tend to let worlds like "practicality" get in the way of their ideas.

SteamWorldDig Comes To Wii U

A while back I did a preview of a sale title Steamworld Dig. I never got round to the review which is weird because I LOVED IT. It was recently announced it was coming to steam (as many eShop must). But it seems it has another destination in mind.



SteamWorld Dig HD is coming to Wii U in 2014, when pressed for more details IMAGE&FORM answered with "soonish" so anyday now? i would expect after E3. The developers are very happy about bringing their 3DS hit to Wii U as they are "huge Nintendo fans". It's unknown if the game will receive any extra content or features outside of HD graphics.

All I can say right now is if you have a Wii U pick this up when you can

look out steam, Good Old Games launching Client

For years Steam dominated the digital PC market but in recent years rivals have appeared, Gamestop Digital, EA's Origin, GAMEware and Ubisoft's Uplay. All taking leafs out of Valves play book but a new rival dose thing's their own way.

Introducing Good Old Game's GALAXY client. A completely optional, Offline compatible, Non DRM client. the software will act as a launcher and updater, so games will work interdependently so no worries about cross play between Galaxy and stand alone users. The first Title on Galaxy will be Witcher: Adventure an pseudo table top RPG.

Now we're big fans of GOG.com here, They not only have a cool selection of older games that are good (making the old games compatible with new OS and hardware) but they carry new games too. They don't believe in DRM nor regional pricing instead opting to swallow the difference themselves. GOG recently spoke out against steam's massive sales as they believe it effects the value of games and it's true on most game announcement's you'll see commenter's saying they'll wait until the Steam sales to buy the game

Xbox One Controller PC Online

The 360 pad has become the go to controller for PC players for some years now, many titles will even change it's tutorial key prompts to the Xbox buttons if the pad is connect to the PC. Unless the Steam Pad (delayed again) is as good as PC fans are claiming (hand on impression claim it's not) then people will be looking at the Xbox One controller.

Microsoft promised it was coming, rumours denied it was coming but we finally have official drivers to use the rather fantastic X1 pad on PC's and Windows 8 devices. Games should recognises the controller as a 360 one and act accordingly.  

X86 Driver here and X64 Driver here

Mario Kart Sells Big, Wii U Updates to Celebrate

So it looks like after all the "complaints" about Mario kart 8 being 720p, "just another" Mario Kart and all the other bizarre bad press such as "rasist" was just nonsense.

Beware Luigi and his Soul piercing death stare

Mario Kart 8 has sold 1.3 million in 3 days. Not to shabby for a "sub HD party game on a dead console". The Wii U gained a shot in the arm too. UK sales have jumped 666% (witchcraft!) And 82% of those was the Mario Kart bundle. Nintendo has also offered a free game with purchases of Mario Kart 8, which os prpvong very popular. IF this sales momentum continues, if Nintendo can deliver at E3 and keep titles coming this could be the start of Nintendo's turn around for their home system.

Eager to please it's new system owners Nintendo has released an update for the Wii U, its mostly fixes and improvements but the major feature is Quick Start, now players can quickly log on and load recently played and installed games.