Kaz

Four trailers released today, spelling doom for my free time; one day…

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Q1 2007

Not really a trailer, a full walkthrough. Seems like a lot of the annoying camoflage system was discarded with the new Octocamo feature. I never got into Snake Eater because I thought the constant pausing was distracting to the gameplay that I enjoyed in MGS2. That, and the fact that I lived with Nick and Tom at the time and saw the ending of the game twice before I even started the game. The day this game launches will be known as “The day everyone bought a PS3″.

Resident Evil 5 - 2008, 2009?

I still cringe every time I see the setting for the new RE. The RE4 control style seems to be preserved, a good thing, and the creepiness of the crowds of zombies has only become amplified by the ridiculous graphics engine. I’m pretty sure I could play this game in front of my family and they would jump and startle with the game.

Mass Effect Nov 2007 (Not soon enough)

I’m reading the Mass Effect book…a measure of my interest in the game, or a measure of how pathetic I am? You decide, this remains my personal most anticipated game.

Bioshock - Aug 21, 2007

I’m so glad this game is so close to launch, I can’t wait to try it out. The atmosphere in System Shock 2 was creepy with it’s dated game engine when I replayed it a couple years ago. I shudder to think about how easily this game might get under my skin. But even if the game’s atmosphere fails (a lot of obvious scripting can do this) the gameplay seems solid enough that the game will succeed anyways.

So it’s been a little over a month. How am I doing?

I’ve managed to lose and keep off 7 pounds. Unfortunately, I have a feeling losing anymore weight is going to become very difficult. I’ve managed the first few pounds easily by merely cutting out Pepsi and the like from my diet. Tea and water, while not as tasty, are a decent substitute. Diet Pepsi is an abomination. As are all diet beverages.

Tennis has become quite the passion for me and my girlfriend, we play at least every other day. Luckily there is another couple we know that plays as well. I think I’ll have my serve down in a couple more weeks of practicing.

Three more pounds until my first milestone…

It may not be everyone’s favorite or beat Rock Band but I love it:

Mass Effect absolutely mesmerized me this year. From the superb trailer to the snippets of game play, everything I saw about this game makes me wish tomorrow it was November. Before you read my thoughts on the game I strongly encourage checking out Gamespot’s stage demo, it absolutely increased my Mass Effect fervor.

Here’s a rundown of what I’m totally stoked for:

• Presentation–Have you seen the dialogue system? No, seriously, have you? It’s ridiculous. Enough said.
• Conversations–Speaking of, you apparently can end most conversations by shooting someone in the head. Something about that speaks to the evolution of KOTOR that Bioware is going for.
• Reminiscent–The way you can explore your ship and interact with your party is very similar to the system that you had in KOTOR wherein you could explore the history of all of your subordinates.
• Star Wars–I’ll miss the Jedi but I’m excited to feel like I’m making my own Star Wars-esque story.

Not everything seems up to snuff:

• Combat–The combat needs to become mroe exciting looking or more RPG-like. Or the conversation trees better be amazing.
• Slowdown–The game seems choppy in video, this may be due to the video feeds or it may be the game. Either way the game shouldn’t ship choppy.

Considering I showed the preview to my father, a sci-fi buff, and his reaction was to ask me: “What movie is this trailer for?” I think the presentation is really strong. Had Microsoft demoed this game on stage, their score would have gone up two points (a nine if you recall the seven I gave MS). I’m at a loss for why this exclusive wasn’t touted as much as Halo 3.

It almost makes me worry that the game isn’t as good as I’m hyping it up to be. As if Microsoft is not focusing on the game because it may not be the best game this year. Or it could be that more people who own an Xbox360 like Halo over anything else. Here’s hoping Bioware delivers.

Sony. What can I say? Nick put it this way: “Hate the company…kinda like the console.” And that’s pretty much how I feel after their press conference. I don’t want to want a $600.00 console, but I might want a PS3.

Many of the games shown during the conference will not be coming out any time soon; certainly not a knock against the company, more like a show of future force. Unfortunately, I can’t tell how far off that future is. On one hand Metal Gear Solid 4 will be arriving soon (exclusive?). On the other hand a lot of the titles I’m really interested in–Final Fantasy XIII, LittleBigPlanet, White Knight, Home(game?)–seem to be ages away.

Did the Sony press conference this year around convince that I’m going to buy a PS3 before the end of the year? No. But is that what their goal should really be at E3? Kind of.

Nintendo and Microsoft could talk about title that aren’t coming out for a while because they both have a decent foothold in the current console market. Sony, surprisingly, doesn’t have that same luxury. Sony needs to sell they’re system now. Not later. Hopefully TGS will remedy this.

That’s not to say they’re conference wasn’t strong. Plenty of games were shown–Uncharted: Drakes Fortune, Heavenly Sword(no jump button?) and Ratchet and Clank Future–all with the potential to sell some units for Sony. Just not as many units as I feel they need.

Oh yeah, and they talked about the PSP and played some Motorstorm. Whoopee.

Sony Press Conference 7/10

Wow, Reggie seemed stiff and forced. not anything like what I’m used to seeing, he didn’t seem impassioned, he seemed uncomfortable. Who wouldn’t though? Image standing in front of hundreds of critics and completely ignoring what they want. Imagine glossing over release dates to your most important franchises like they’re yesterdays news.

No wonder he seemed uncomfortable.

In between the self back patting and nigh masturbatory YouTube clips there was a glimmer of hope. Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Mario Galaxy finally got release dates. And Nintendo couldn’t care less. Perhaps you could labor over these important titles? No?

We get WiiFit instead? Oh boy. Can’t wait to get on that over simplified DDR mat. Nintendo thinks they’re Apple, and now they seem to be telling us what we should like just like Apple.

Nintendo seems to be going down the path that I had figured. They are positioning themselves as the mass amrket console. Or at least, they think they are. I’m more inclined to believe they are positioning themselves as the introductory console. Think: “If you like Nintendo Wii, then you’ll love the Playstation 3…” Sickening to think about.

Nintendo Press Conference 4/10