Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
I don’t like the way your looking at me Mario….
by Robert Bruce
On day one Xbox’s focus, as far as I could tell, was primarily on Kinect games and Halo 4. I don’t blame them at all, but their floor area was very sparse, and most of that floor was either the gargantuan line for Halo 4, or people demonstrating a couple choice Kinect based games; including a Marvel-Avengers-esque game, a dancing game and some other games that didn’t really grab my attention (I believe one was the Wreckateer which is a sort of Kinect version of Angry Birds that certainly has some promise). Behind this section was a number of smaller XBLA games, which actually interested me more than any of the above games. Deadlight caught my eyes more than any of the other things showcased in the XBLA section. Deadlight reminded me a lot of the old-school Blizzard’s Blackthorne, only with zombies and many generations forward in graphics tech. The game is a “2d-esque” side-scroller that takes you through a zombie laden apocalypse; and I realize how boring that sounds conceptually. What’s interesting is the the lighting effects or lack thereof that contribute to the challenge and feel of the game. Lush city-scape backgrounds and a great job of atmosphere contribute to what looks to be an interesting game experience.
The E3 event in LA arrives again, and although there’s no giant announcement that seemed to move a mountain of any sort, it’s still a happening that matters. We do all play games of some sort, right? If not, we’re aware of them and they shape a tiny portion of our lives. After a tiny worry about getting in, we made it through. 4 deep to see the latest games. We did get to see Black Ops 2 in a private room and the new mode where you get to control more of the game. It’s as if you’re playing with a clan but you’re actually by yourself. The game takes place in LA as far as the campaign goes and it’s 2025 and you’re protecting the President. This means it’s chaos and near apocalyptic. Life is nuts and this game will add to it. It’s going to be a big deal. Of course, I’m most interested in the multiplayer mode which I didn’t get to see, but if it’s anything like the 10 minutes of preview that a fella from perhaps Treyarch demonstrated, it’s going to be fun. Of course, no photos allowed!
Below is Joust, an indie game that took place in the Indiecade area.
Carlos Angrybananas Lopez playing the Edmund McMillen Game. From Super Meat Boy to something new. Is this Binding of Isaac? Edmund is making it.
At E3, it’s all about Motion Games. Seriously, what is as boring as playing a game on a flat screen? (It’s actually fine either way), but at a convention like E3, the eye catchy kinetic energy happens when people are running around, dancing around, and swinging their arms. It doesn’t help that often times, the people doing it are wearing tights. Even the UFC Personal Fitness Trainer as seen below is demonstrated by a team of buffed out ladies. The one below could score a take down, mount, and then a ground and pound. Some of you would let her do it and enjoy getting pummeled. With her game faced, cold stare pose, you’re doomed. But this is actually an exercise game for the X-Box Kinect. Other Highlights? The Kinect software is looking like fun, and the weird thing is, it’s handled like it’s own new planet. I saw Disneyland Adventures, which didn’t move as well as I wished, but it looks like fun for the kids. Kinect Star Wars was fun, swing the light sabers and jump, kick, and keep moving forward. You can use the force by reaching back and pushing forward. You can lift ships out of your way. Yes, this part… it’s cool. (there’s no real point in showing photos but these are good for the kids.) Kinect Fun Labs. Yes, it’s free and it’s part of an endeavor to tie you more into the system. Like the 3DS, you can create a Mii in minutes. No more of the 1 hour wait time while you get your hair just right. This cuts to the chase.
Hulk Hogan was there to promote his Hulk Hogan’s Main Event game. Another for the Kinect. People are racing to take a photo of him.
That’s Chilan Lieu who’s working on a new show on HG, and was there for gametrailers.com I tagged along for meetings with Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, and Yoostar!
The holy grail of the entire E3 event. That’s the Wii U and it’s playing the upcoming Zelda, or at least a part of it. Thicker than an iPad, this is part of the new console. There’s a few more photos of it and with it in the photo collection after the jump. It seems like a retro looking device for some reason. Almost like it’s new/old done on purpose. This is just the special controller. The neat thing is that it’s used in some games as a special controller, almost like a Dungeon Master in a AD&D game. You see a little more than the others. Also it’s reported that you’ll be able to use this to play the games away from your TV, draw on the pad, surf the web, and use it nearly like a tablet. The Wii U looks like a bunch of fun. I’m still thinking it’s design could be a little tighter.
Dos dudes… from Angrybananas.com – Thanks much fellas. See more photos after the jump.