Julius

Some concept art/early renderings from the presentation have made their way online; I...can't see any Zelda on this map

Dang, a number of great offers on PS+ and on physical-selling sites. Shame I spent quite a fair bit on college materials for the next academic year recently, or I'd be stockpiling a fair number of these titles for later play :/

A few days late on this update and I still haven't seen anyone else mention it, so I thought I would: Bethesda's panel has been delayed due to unspecified circumstances from 19:00 to 21:00 PT [from 03:00 to 05:00 BST] on the evening of Sunday 11th June PT [the morning of Monday 12th June BST]. EDIT [TWEET]873729100426473472[/TWEET]

One of these? Great impulse buy...

I'm finding the scheduled 15 minutes of Mario play highly intriguing and reflective of a more understanding Nintendo. 15 minutes is pretty short for a game, but for one that will be much more easier to just pick up and play (when compared to a first time BOTW demo, for example) it makes total sense. Makes even more sense considering just how long the lines were last year for the BOTW stations, so this is smart on Nintendo's part: give as many people as possible the chance to play Super Mario Odyssey, not just because it's fair to fans at the event - and makes even more sense considering 15000 attendees this year will be fans and not media - but also because it shows an awareness of the social norms, and perhaps even-more-so the power of word-of-mouth advertising. Many Switch and BOTW owners have had such word-of-mouth experiences by now, and it can only help build anticipation and excitement for the console and the new game at this point. Smart move, Nintendo. Smart move. Please have some just-as-smart-if-not-smarter moves to show off during your Spotlight on Wednesday, though.

99.9% confident this shows up during Nintendo's Treehouse Livestream, and, I suppose, probably the same goes for Skyrim too. It's a good start from EA in terms of support (FIFA was always going to be a smart first game option for a console like the Switch), and I'd love to see some EA Originals, such as the just announced (and literally Switch-perfect, from a gameplay standpoint) The Way Out make the Switch.

At this rate, I think EA won't focus on the Switch unless it becomes the second largest console platform, or at least makes up substantial ground (i.e. outpacing the Scorpio/Xbox One over the next 12 months), which is a stupidly difficult thing to achieve nearly 4 years into the current iteration of PS and Xbox consoles. We literally just heard them talk about special 4K Madden assets, and how they'll have more on Anthem tomorrow, specifically citing the Scorpio in both instances. Can they seriously not just throw a bone at the Switch? EA Sports/DICE games don't really bother me too much, as graphical fidelity takes centre stage over game play in those games, but I want the option to play EA Originals on the Switch. Just the concept of on-the-couch two player games - I mean, imagine this thing being portable! - such as The Way Out - a game that if you told me was specifically made for the Switch, I would believe you - breathes the ethos of the Switch (fun; together; on the go?!).

I feel like BF1 was used by EA simply to gauge the market, and more as a marketing tool than a game (this coming from someone who logged 100+ hours on said game). They knew well before BF1 was even teased that a single player campaign, all eras, etc., was craved by fans everywhere. By not putting that all in the first game (which was certainly rushed out to make TFA), which has probably sold 15+ million units by now, they get to put a very smart PR spin on this: we listened to what you, the fans, wanted, and we've gone ahead and included it. Same goes for the free seasonal content. It's a genius long-term play by EA, and this game will likely sell somewhere between 20 and 30 million units when all is said and done. Hoping that means that BF3 on PS5 and Xbox Two will have true air-to-ground battles... As for your musings, this could be a smart move. I don't think you'd see them at launch, mind, but perhaps trickled out in between their planned seasonal content. Heck, if they want to take the we listened to YOU marketing further, why not simply run polls on Twitter/the EA website and let fans vote for maps they want to see from the first game come to the second, with the additional content of all eras, etc.? The free content is, from how I understood it, practically a free Season Pass available to all players (and saved them from segmenting the player base), and seeing as we're getting Finn and Phasma early on, and with the promise of a lot more maps, I could see it enlarging the game - in terms of maps and heroes/villains - to four times larger than the original (as opposed to the three currently being cited for launch content). EDIT JackFrags has just uploaded his gameplay video from the event (including the use of Rey's ability); IGN have also uploaded the full multiplayer demo sourced from the livestream (for those who don't want to dig into the stream only to skip ahead); Having watched some of the livestream back, a smart gameplay-corresponding sound effect has been added: a high-pitched chime, seemingly to notify the player that they have successfully defeated/assisted(?) an opposing player. Very smart move, considering that a niggling problem I had with BF1 was that I would hesitate after a kill/thinking I had a kill to check text appearing on the screen to confirm my kill; whilst such text still seems to appear, this high-pitched chime seems to be a smart gameplay move which should allow for more fluid and competitive gameplay.

Battlefront II and The Way Out look amazing, from visual, gameplay and technical standpoints. Can't wait to see Anthem tomorrow (guess I'll be tuning into the Xbox livestream after all...), but I feel that it will be a team-up with Xbox when it comes to marketing in a similar way to how FIFA 18 and Battlefront II have been aligned with PS4. Having Anthem be a timed exclusive for Scorpio (which I suppose would likely make it a launch title) would be terrible business for EA, but great news for Xbox. I suppose we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see just how much Xbox paid them to get whatever they have - be it timed exclusivity or marketing rights.

Woah, the same day as a Pokémon game? Nintendo's pushing hard on all fronts, it seems, this Christmas.

Now that's a great shout! Could also be a great way for EA to venture into VR...

I'm extremely excited for BF2. Could easily sell 15+ million units based on what we know so far, but if we get more in-depth customisation, etc.? Completely disagree with some analysts who have been saying it should be kept quite shallow as we already have other gaming franchises for in-depth FPS, especially seeing as the original BFII was one of the earlier games to pave the way to online multiplayer FPS, a dominant genre in the business. On another note, I'm also intrigued to see if we see a new IP from EA this evening.

A bit over two hours to go...

Something tells me this is going to be a good week... [TWEET]873222688608858112[/TWEET]

EZA BETTING SPECIAL E3 2017 Take me to Valhalla

Haha, totally. Would you like to see it remade in 3D, or given a new 2D/2.5D treatment? Personally, I feel like this game would look beautiful using the same engine and effects as Project Octopath Traveller (and could mean we'd be getting it sooner rather than in 2028)?

@Hero\-of\-Time @nekunando

Loved the FFVI Remake prediction @Hero\-of\-Time , shame if it's true we'll probably see it and then find out that they need developers two years down the line :P Predicting a 2018 game montage to round off the Spotlight (Fire Emblem Switch, Super Smash Bros. for Switch, Animal Crossing Switch, etc.) concluding with the montage and music peaking before it all goes dark and quiet, a lowering platform is heard, and then, breaking the cold darkness, is the opening of the platform/elevator with a sci-fi fwoosh and the green of Samus' helm lighting up the dark. And then of course cap this off with the Switch animation/sound effect.

Agreed. I just can't see any world where 3 actually makes it to release this year; I think a delay to summer/winter 2018 is more likely, with 1+2 HD possibly taking up 3's planned release date of December 2017. I found it odd too, but then again, it is running the same days that Nintendo Treehouse is running, so anything Coliseum could offer regarding gameplay, etc., will more than likely be shown off at Treehouse. Would love for the "surprise guests" to be a Miyamoto/Aonuma, Kojima, [insert more legendary names here] interview with Geoff, though I doubt this would happen :/

Should we really be talking about Super Mario Odyssey in a Pokémon Direct thread? :P

[TWEET]872460812434128896[/TWEET] Very happy about this. Kojima and his new team have done a great job with the trailers for Death Stranding, but many, myself included, were beginning to worry that more focus was being put on the trailers than actually getting development started; in hindsight, considering the talent - but varying degrees of a lack of expertise - throughout Kojima Productions, this could have been a great way for Kojima and Guerrilla to familiarise the team with the Decima engine. I can see this going quiet until at least E3 of next year, and so a 2019/2020 release date is now starting to seem feasible simply because of this smart move. I suppose at this point, though, the question becomes whether PlayStation wants to use it as a means of closing out the PS4 in a strong way, bolstering the launch of the PS5, or, perhaps, even, both? Could cross-platform play be on the cards? Speculation aside, though, I wish Square Enix would follow suit when it comes to working on Final Fantasy VII Remake and Kingdom Hearts 3, mind... (then again I totally want to see them this year at E3 :/) Very happy that Kojima will still be at E3 despite having nothing to show off himself. Nice reminder that all of these developers are gamers at heart There's more E3 news still, though, with Geoff Keighley posting the Coliseum schedule on Twitter (I'll share it in full below, and please let me know if it's too long so that I can spoiler tag it - though I would typically do this without asking, I think there's a fair share of speculation to be had around the schedule's content, as there is a LOT): [TWEET]872453103764652033[/TWEET] The full schedule for E3 Coliseum is as follows (All Times Pacific Time): Tuesday, June 13 • 11:00 AM — Noon: God of War: Behind the Curtain It’s been one year since game director Cory Barlog and his team at Santa Monica Studio introduced fans around the world to a bold new vision for God of War. Join us as Cory and other members of the development team share new insights and recount challenges overcome, delving further into writing, world building, combat design, and the powerful father/son relationship at the heart of Kratos’ new beginning. Moderated by Michele Morrow. • Noon — 12:30 PM: Inside Bungie For over 25 years, Bungie has pushed the video game industry in bold new directions. Join Bungie CEO Pete Parsons for a wide-ranging discussion about his career, the industry, and Bungie’s next release, Destiny 2. Moderated by WWE superstar (and devoted Destiny fan) Big Show. • 12:30 PM — 1:30 PM: World Builders Join host Chris Hardwick for a keynote discussion about building worlds across entertainment mediums, with a focus on video games. Hardwick will be joined by astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson, director James Gunn, Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford, and 343 Industries’ Kiki Wolfkill. • 1:30 PM — 2:15 PM: Assassin’s Creed Ubisoft presents a look at what’s next from Assassin’s Creed. • 2:15 PM — 2:45 PM: What Game From E3 Will Make You the Next Online Gaming Superstar? In a world where online content creators can make or break the success of a new game, discover which games from this year’s E3 are going to make the biggest splash with the world’s largest online creators. Join MatPat, creator of The Game Theorists YouTube channel (more than 8 million subscribers, 2016 winner of the Streamy Award for Best Gaming Channel), to find out which games are making a mark at E3 in the eyes of top Twitch and YouTube streamers. Learn what makes some games great to play and others great to watch for millions of fans on YouTube and Twitch. • 2:45 PM — 3:15 PM: Bethesda Softworks Join Bethesda Softworks for a look at a newly announced title that will be seen for the first time at their E3 2017 Showcase. • 3:15 PM– 4:00 PM: Square Enix Don’t miss when Square Enix presents a live demonstration of a newly announced title being showcased at E3 2017. • 4:00 PM — 4:30 PM: Epic Games For over two decades, the team at Epic Games has built some of the video game industry’s most talked about titles. Join members of Epic at E3 Coliseum for a behind-the-scenes look at the developer’s next release. • 4:30 PM — 5:00 PM: Swing Behind the Scenes With the New Spider-Man for PS4 Join key members of both Insomniac Games and Marvel for a peek into the upcoming Spider-Man collaboration for the PS4. • 5:00 PM — 5:45 PM: Project Scorpio: The Most Powerful Place to Create and Play Discover how Xbox built a powerful development platform in Project Scorpio with game creators in mind. Featuring key members of the Xbox team, including Turn 10 Studios and The Coalition. Moderated by Xbox Live’s Larry Hryb (Major Nelson). • 6:00 PM — 7:00 PM: Jack Black in Conversation with Tim Schafer Over the past 30 years Tim Schafer has created some of the gaming industry’s most hilariously memorable worlds and characters. The multi-talented Jack Black (star of Brutal Legend) leads a wide-ranging conversation with Tim about his career, creative process, and yes, Psychonauts 2. Wednesday, June 14 • 10:00 AM — 10:45 AM: New Realities: VR, AR, and Gaming Video games are ushering in a whole new era of interactivity across a host of new devices that deliver virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences. Join Will Smith (The Foo Show) for a discussion about the state of immersive reality and the future of gameplay and storytelling in VR and AR. Joining Smith will be film director Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters), Curtis Hickman (Co-Founder/CCO, The Void), Tanja Watson (Co-Founder, Squanchtendo Games) David Ellison (CEO, Skydance Media), and Brandon J. Laatsch (Stress Level Zero Games). • 10:45 AM — 11:30 AM: Sea of Thieves: Community Spirit The Sea of Thieves team discusses the opportunities and challenges of transforming Rare, one of the industry’s most secretive developers, into an open studio that celebrates its community and has brought its most passionate fans right into the heart of the development process — an essential step in creating a AAA shared-world pirate adventure. • 11:30 — Noon: Gaming Evolved: New Voices, New Visions As the video game industry continues to evolve, there are opportunities for new voices and perspectives to push the medium in exciting new directions. Join us for a discussion about the many ways creators can express themselves and reach new audiences through video games. • Noon — 12:45 PM: Crash Bandicoot Reunion Twenty-one years after he first arrived on the scene, Crash Bandicoot is back! Join members of the original creative team behind the game — Connie Booth, Mark Cerny, Naughty Dog co-founders Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin, and Bob Rafei — for a once-in-a-lifetime reunion to discuss the making of the original Crash Bandicoot and its impact on the video game industry. • 12:45 PM — 1:30 PM: Mortal Kombat: Celebrating 25 Years For over 25 years, Mortal Kombat has evolved and pushed the fighting game genre in new directions, including its most recent release, MKX. Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon joins the E3 Coliseum to reflect on the series and its impact on popular culture, esports, and the video game industry. • 1:30 PM — 2:00 PM: Far Cry 5: A Trip to Hope County Welcome to Hope County, Montana, a rural community taken over by a fanatical cult. Led by Joseph Seed, “The Father,” players will build a resistance with the help of citizens of Hope County. Join Dan Hay, executive producer and creative director, and Drew Holmes, lead writer, to learn more about the citizens of Hope County, including The Father, Pastor Jerome, Mary May, and Nick Rye. • 2:00 PM — 2:30 PM: Call of Duty: WWII — Sledgehammer Games’ Journey Back to the Franchise’s Roots Call of Duty: WWII returns to its franchise roots. Join Michael Condrey, Glen Schofield, and Greg Reisdorf for an inside look at the game that is taking the series back to boots on the ground. The panel will share behind-the-scenes development of the E3 content as we look at multiplayer and campaign gameplay and perhaps a hint at things to come in the months ahead. Moderated by Afrojack (Nick van de Wall). • 2:30 PM — 3:15 PM: Stories Across Screens How does today’s greatest game writing influence the world of TV and film, and vice versa? Join Better Call Saul Executive Producer Gennifer Hutchison for a conversation with leading storytellers about the opportunities and challenges of interactive and linear storytelling. Hutchison will be joined by Emil Pagliarulo (Designer Director, Bethesda Game Studios), Josh Scherr (Writer, Naughty Dog), and Dan Tractenberg (Director, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Black Mirror). • 3:15 PM — 4:15 PM: A Conversation with Hideo Kojima and Jordan Vogt-Roberts A one-on-one session looking back at the career of Hideo Kojima, led by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, director of Kong: Skull Island. These two creative forces will share the stage to discuss the fusion of gaming and cinema. Mr. Kojima will discuss his cinematic influences and how they have allowed him to make masterworks of his own. • 4:15 PM — 5:00 PM: The Indie Revolution Some of today’s most creative and inspiring games come from independent developers working outside the system. Join us to hear their stories. Robin Hunicke (Funomena) leads a discussion about the independent game scene across console, mobile, and PC, featuring guests including Brendan Greene (creator, Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds) and Eli Cymet (Alto’s Odyssey). • 5:00 PM — 5:30 PM: Middle-earth: Shadow of War — A Behind-the-Scenes Look Join Monolith Productions, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, and Troy Baker (the voice of Talion) for an inside look and live demonstration of Middle-earth: Shadow of War. • 5:30–6 PM: Square Enix Join the team at Square Enix for a developer showcase, revealing new details about a game that will be announced for the first time at E3 2017. • 6:00 PM: An exclusive surprise discussion with renowned figures.

Whilst I do think that we likely would have considered it regardless - perhaps especially because of how strong Nintendo's announced first and second party line-up has been so far - I do agree: Eurogamer's report spurred on expectations. Which I find extremely odd. Not only did it come out around the time of SM's release (actually, wasn't it within 24 hours or so of release one way or the other?), it reported that we would be seeing them utilise the HD assets found in the games, if I remember correctly. Which...might have been even more odd, and perhaps should have been a dead giveaway: as far as I can tell, every time this franchise moves to a newer console, a dedicated (albeit sometimes slightly tweaked) engine or assets are created that make full use of the new system's hardware upgrades, and yet Eurogamer were reporting that Stars would be, at least as I read it, making use of the same engine and assets found in SM? What an odd report...

I'm very, very slowly coming to terms with this. Whilst I'm not a fan of the idea of an alternate take on SM a la a traditional third version as opposed to sequels, I'm intrigued by what stories they think they can pull off with a new take on very recent games. I truly think that the game not coming to Switch is good for all parties: it gives Gamefreak more time to work on whatever they have planned (I think the HD assets found in SM were simply an initial blueprint for what they want to do on the Switch, and with models for all 802 Pokémon + alternate forms already in HD, apart from perhaps more intricacies being added, the models we want to see are pretty much ready, and they might their focus to now shift to other things, such as world/character design, plot, a more complex AI, etc.) and means that the Switch doesn't put itself out of business. Seriously: whilst having a myriad of games is never a bad thing for a new system, it would have been a terrible business decision for Nintendo to ask Gamefreak to rush out a sub-par Pokémon game, and especially on a console with <5 million units sold at this point -- not due to difficulties selling the system, but rather, due to production difficulties. They can't make the consoles fast enough as it is, and we just recently heard that they might end up scrapping with Apple for parts. Nintendo preys on high demand and low supply when it comes to rolling out new products, but announcing a main series Pokémon game would result in too high a demand for any supply to be sufficient at this point. And that's without taking into account just how packed Q3/Q4 already looks for the Switch games catalogue as is! I mean, when would it feasibly release?