Jaggy's E3 Wrap Up Part 2

Part 2 Introduction

For the second E3 article, I cover the rest of the conferences from last weekend. This includes the Xbox conference, Nintendo, and Bethesda. So let's get right to it! And if you missed our first wrap up article, click here.

XBOX

I could really just stop on this first title, the one that everyone is waiting for, which is Cyberpunk 2077. Let's be real, I was am stoked for this title but it was made EVEN better when Keanu Reeves - John Wick himself - stepped on the stage. Of course what happened has now become a meme (NO YOU'RE BREATHTAKING!), but it was so worth it. And as most everyone knows, Cyberpunk is an open world RPG set in a megalopolis. Players get to run around with cyberware and use enhancements to take on a story of your own. It is being developed an published by CD Projekt Red and anything this studio touches often turns into gold. My body is ready!

For me, arguably the next most hyped game is something that the next generation of gamers will have to suffer through. And that game is called Battletoads! It is an old Nintendo game that drove my brother and I insane mainly because of those dumb slaloms. Anyways, now a new generation of players can suffer through this amazing game - depending on how the game is designed. Either way, I'm excited for it.

Another game that caught my eye is an indie game called 12 Minutes, an interactive thriller in top down view. It is being published by Annapurna Interactive for PC and Xbox One. You play a character that is told that you and your wife are having a child, though not long after cops burst into your house to arrest your wife. Luis Antonio, the developer of this game, has been credited for work done in The Witness - another puzzle game I absolutely loved that was created by Jonathan Blow. For me, this title is not one to miss out on. 

The next title that made me smile ridiculously is Lego Speed Champions: Forza Horizon 4. I mean, they had a McLaren assembled out of Lego - and the car looked like it was made to scale! Anyways, it has never been a secret that I love racing games but marrying racing with a Lego game makes any fan feel like a kid again. It may be silly but I love it!

Elden Ring is an action RPG releasing under FromSoftware. The critically acclaimed author George R. R. Martin collaborated with the Dark Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki to create this new souls-like game. It proves to be a dark and brutal game based on the history of these two masters at murdering viewers and players alike. Of course, I don't mean that literally. Anyways, the game looks like any Souls fans will enjoy this new title.

The seventeenth title under Bandai Namco's epic Tales series will release in 2020 and fans of the series are stoked. It is a JRPG that many gamers have heard of or played previously. This new title, Tales of Arise, aims to appeal to the western audience, even though it will not be an open world. The last game in this series was Tales of Berseria and it has been several years since it launched, so it stands to reason that many fans will grab this title when it launches. I mean, we are talking about Bandai Namco here.

Borderlands 3 has been talked about at length in the recent weeks. On September 13th, the Handsome Collection will launch and I know plenty of gamers that are excited for this title as well. It will feature a ton of guns, guns, and more guns. Oddly enough, I've never been big on the Borderlands games, however, it is well liked and I would be remiss if I didn't mention it in this list of games to be excited for.

This conference also announced some key bits of information like Double Fine Productions is now part of the Microsoft studio, the news of the Xbox GamePass, and Project Scarlett - Xbox's new console that will compete with the PlayStation 5. I've always been a #pcmasterrace kind of person so we'll see what happens with the new consoles.

Nintendo

Nintendo's conference had a couple of interesting titles. The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening will release September 20th of this year. Trials of Mana will release on the Switch in 2020 and with that announcement came news that all three Mana games are available on the Switch.

A new titled called Astral Chain will release August 20th this year and I'm excited for this game. It is an action game developed by PlatinumGames and is directed by the lead game designer for Nier: Automata with assistance from Hideki Kamiya, the creator of Bayonetta. Players will be able to choose between two characters who will be responsible for saving their world. I want it. The game looks amazing from what has been shown thus far.

The next title in this list is also part of the Zelda series and it is called Cadence of Hyrule which calls back to the Zelda games of old as a top down 2D world. Players will explore randomly generated places and they will be able to either run around as Zelda or as Link. This game also merges some of the weapons and spells used in Crypt of the NecroDancer. There is also a music component to the game as well as having the ability to play with a friend, so it should be an interesting experience. 

During the Xbox conference the new Animal Crossing game, "New Horizons", was announced. It will be released on March 20th of next year and a lot of people are excited. Animal Crossing is a game where players build up a new life on a deserted island. Over time they can create a whole community of people and animals. Having never played an Animal Crossing game, I might check this one out, just because it would be a nice relaxing gameplay experience.

Now for a title that several members of Chalgyr's are excited about, which is The Sinking City - an open world action/adventure mystery game being developed and published by Frogwares. It is inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft and it is set in a fictional town of New England, Oakmont Massachusetts. Players follow a private investigator and a war veteran who try to figure out the source of awful horrific visions that seem to be causing floods. The game will release on June 27th of this year and we are excited for it!   

Many people are happy to see the joining of Super Smash Ultimate and Banjo Kazooie, which releases later this year. A huge teaser is the sequel to Breath of the Wild which simply stated that the game is in development. I have no idea how that will turn out but I love the idea of having another BoTW game.

Also mentioned was a Catan game that will launch on the Switch on June 20th. This is exciting for me because I love the boardgame Settler's of Catan. I'm not sure how it will play out as a mobile game, but I'm excited nonetheless.

Bethesda

I'll be honest, every single year the Bethesda conference is the most boring for me. I am not a fan of Fallout, and especially hate Fallout 76 because of how much of a let down it was to other people. I've simply watched the trainwreck happen from a distance. In the presentation, Bethesda talked about the new additions to the game like actual NPC's and a new battle royale mode called Nuclear Winter. I'm sure there are plenty of fans out there that will gobble up the new additions to the game, but it's not my kind of game so it's not that big of a deal to me.

Next on the list is Deathloop, created by the people responsible for Dishonored and Prey. Now, I do like the Dishonored series, so releasing a new IP as a first-person action game, seems like it would be interesting to me. I'm not yet sure if it will be my style of game yet but who knows?

Finally, Commander Keen is being revived as a free to play mobile game. It was a classic platformer that was inspired by Saturday morning cartoons in its original installment. I believe the game is being released as a 2D tactics game. It will feature a single-player story mode and a real time PVP combat. It was not a game that I played in the 90s but it looks like it would be really fun to try. I might give this title a shot.

Bethesda had a lot more to showcase like Wolfenstein, Elder Scroll, and Doom Eternal but again, just about everything in their lineup did not excite me at all. That's just me though.

Other Games

There were plenty of games I didn't get to so, here is a list of the rest of the games I didn't mention:

Xbox One

• Star Wars: Fallen Order
• Blair Witch
• Spiritfarer
• RPG Time: The Legend of Wright
• Star Renegades
• Totally Accurate Battle Simulator
• Crosscode
• Creatures in the Well
• Riverbond
• Unto the End
• Felix the Reaper
• Undermind
• Secret Neighbour
• Night Call
• Totem Teller
• Microsoft Flight Simulator
• Age of Empires III: The Definitive Edition
• Wasteland 3
• Psychonauts 2
• Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
• DragonBall Game: Project Z
• Way to the Woods
• Gears 5: Bound by Blood 5, Escape, Terminator
• Dying Light 2
• Funko Pop Gears 5
• State of Decay 2: Heartland
• Phantasy Star Online 2

Nintendo

• Super Smash Ultimate + Dragon Quest XI
• Luigi's Mansion 3
• The Dark Crystal: Tactics
• Trials of Mana
• The Witcher III - for the Switch
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses
• No More Heroes III
• Contra Anniversary Collection
• Daemon vs Machina
• Panzer Dragoon
• Pokemon Sword / Shield
• Empire of Sin
• Ultimate Alliance 3
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
• Spyro
• Hollow Knight: Silk Song
• Minecraft Dungeons
• My Friend Pedo
• Dead by Daylight IV
• Alien Isolation
• Just Dance 2020
• Super Lucky's Tale
• Super Mario Maker 2

Bethesda

• The Elder Scrolls: Blades
• Ghostwire Tokyo
• The Evil Within 3
• Doom Eternal
• Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot
• Wolfenstein: Youngblood
• Rage 2: Rise of the Ghosts

 

Final Wrap Up of E3

Obviously there are some amazing titles listed like Cyberpunk and Battletoads. Remember, this is a subjective list of things I'm excited about, but also, this is just my opinion.

Who's conference won E3 for you? I'm tied between the PC games list and Square Enix.



Article by Susan N.

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Jaggy's E3 Wrap Up Part 1

E3 Introductory Thoughts

This year's E3 had a lot of fun and interesting titles, facepalm moments, and it wouldn't be E3 without some technical issues. As with last year's E3 wrap up, I will split the conferences into two articles to get as many games listed as possible. In this first article I'm looking at games I'm excited for from the PC Gaming Show, Square Enix, Ubisoft, and Devolver Digital. I'm not going into detail about every title, just the ones I'm hyped for. The rest will be listed at the end of the article.

PC Gaming Show

As a PC player, this conference is often the most important one for me to watch. While there were a lot of games listed in their lineup, I'm excited for Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines 2 because, lets face it, people know I'm a fan of vampires. Next is a much anticipated new published game by Chucklefish called Starmancer and I definitely want it. This is a game where players can build up a colony in space and ConcernedApe's ability to do incredible pixel art has impressed me. I can see the drastic improvements from his work in Stardew Valley.

Now, I've always been a fan of games like Planet Coaster or some of the Tycoon games, so it should be no shock that I love the idea of Planet Zoo. Sometimes it's just fun to build up great spaces where nothing could possibly go wrong... Absolutely nothing... The animals won't try to eat each other or the patrons, will they?

Balders Gate had a relatively short trailer at E3 this year and it does not have a release date, but fans of the series are excited to get their hands on this title. We don't yet have much information about the style of gameplay since the previous two titles were top down 2D strategy games. It'll be fun to see what direction the newest installment will take.

Alright, now to talk briefly about a game that I most likely won't play, but I love the premise behind it. Midnight Ghost Hunt is a hide and seek multiplayer game where players are either ghosts or ghost hunters. The hunters have to find the ghosts before midnight. The ghosts can pose as any inanimate object in the place. There aren't many games where players get to be evil ghosts that try to murder others, so that is why I find it an intriguing premise, but that's just me.

Next on the list is Age of Wonders: Planetfall, a 4x game that releases in August of this year. It's no surprise that I love just about anything Paradox Interactive publishes, so to have this on my list of must have games should not shock anyone. It's a science-fiction strategy game that looks like a lot of fun by combining turn-based combat with the studio that brought us the Age of Wonders series. Yes. I need this in my life!

This year, fans of the Shenmue series will get the third installment in November. It is an open world action/adventure game where players take control of Ryo Hazuki, a martial artist who seeks revenge on his father's killer. I know plenty of people that I stoked for it, so keep an eye out for Shenmue!

Earlier this year I reviewed a game called Whispers of a Machine that was published by Raw Fury. E3 presented another game releasing by the same publisher called Per Aspera and I'm excited for it. This title is a simulation game taking place on Mars and it reminds me of the aesthetic of Surviving Mars. Per Aspera has more than just base building it seems, because it contains a single player story that we can experience - which is different from Surviving Mars which doesn't have a single player narrative.

Finally, the makers of Her Story have developed a new title called Telling Lies. Unlike Her Story where players watch small portions of an interrogation to determine what happened, this title features multiple characters who are lying. Your job is to learn the truth and I believe it will be an intriguing game to play. It's set to come out later this year and I need to get my hands on it.

Square Enix

I'm not going to lie, the Square Enix conference was one of the ones I was extremely excited about because of the Final Fantasy VII remake that is coming out March 3rd of next year. I want to see more about the game and I'm still excited for it to release, despite what others may say.

They announced Life is Strange 2's next episode, which is a series I've enjoyed ever since I played the first one. It's a series that has some very interesting themes and amazing music, so I look forward to going through more of the story in it.

Another title they announced for the summer of next year is called Outriders and it is a new co-op based shooter that will release on Xbox One, Playstation 4, and PC. The game seems post apocalyptic and brutal, so I'm intrigued. We aren't told much about the game but I have hopes for it. We will find out when more information is released.

Square Enix is also releasing a new Avengers game that is said to be different from the events of the movie. It is releasing on May 15th of next year and looks like a good time. Also, it helps that the trailer had some amusing comments like: "Did Thor just make a joke?" Another bonus is that Travis Willingham and Laura Bailey are the voices of Thor and Black Widow respectively. Since I'm a fan of Critical Role (a D&D show streamed on Twitch with a group of famous voice actors), it makes perfect sense that I'd be immediately interested in this title for multiple reasons.

Finally, the biggest shock for me was the announcement of Final Fantasy VIII's remake which comes out this year. WHAT?! SERIOUSLY?! I'm still in shock! For those of you that aren't aware, my introduction to the series was Final Fantasy VII. I went on to play Final Fantasy VIII after that and both of these games are significant to me for personal reasons that I won't elaborate on. Suffice it to yes, this is a title I'm also going to nab as fast as possible. I loved this game and have zero issues playing it again!

Ubisoft Conference

For me, Ubisoft didn't have a lot of titles I was super excited about, but the two that really peaked my interest are Watch Dogs: Legion which is set to release on March 6th of next year and Roller Champions. The second one surprised me because I grew up watching a television show called "Blade Warriors" where players had to traverse an obstacle course on rollerblades, very similar to the TV show called "America's Ninja Warriors". Seeing this game made me smile and remember the television series and I'm excited for the game, even if it's chessy as hell. I want it.

Of course, it wouldn't be Ubisoft if they didn't announce another Just Dance game (now with Kpop!) and the launch of Uplay Plus that allows subscribers to get early access to new games. It will be available on Stadia and only costs $14.99/month.

Devolver Digital

As per normal, Devolver Digital enters the ring with interesting games like Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, Carrion - a reverse horror game where players are the evil creature chasing after those that imprisoned them, a new Enter the Gungeon DLC called House of the Gundead, and The Messenger's new DLC "Picnic Panic." While I always wonder about the legitimacy of the trailers they present, their conference is always just something to experience. Trust me.

Day 1 Final Thoughts

Now, there are a large number of titles that I didn't include in this list because there are a lot of games to cover. My objective was to simplify what E3 had to offer so here is the list of everything else for these four conferences:

PC

• Evil Geniuses 2
• Chivalry 2
• Mosaic
• Unexplored 2
• Mutant Year Zero: Seed of Evil
• Conan Unconquered
• Moons of Madness
• Conan Chop Chop
• Last Oasis
• Zombie Army Dead War 4
• Remnant: From the Ashes
• Griftlands
• Songs of Conquest
• Vermintide 2: Versus
• Cris Tales
• ValFaris
• Maneater
• Terraria: Journey's End
• Genesis Noir
• El Hijo
• Ancestors
• The Pathless
• Phantom Brigade
• Rune II
• What the Golf?
• The Sojourn

Square Enix

• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
• Octopath Traveler
• The Last Remnant Remastered
• Dragon Quest Builders 2
• DragonQuest XI
• Circuit Superstars
• Battallion 1944: Battlefront?
• Kingdom Hearts III: Re-mind
• Final Fantasy XIV: ShadowBringers
• Dying Light 2
• Romancing Salsa 3
• Final Fantasy Brave Exvius
• Final Fantasy Brave War of the Visions
• Oninaki

 Ubisoft

• Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet
• Rainbow Six Siege: Operation Phantom Sight
• Adventure Time in Brawlhalla
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Breakpoint
• Ghost Recon: Delta Company
• Tom Clancy's Elite Squad
• For Honor: Shadows of the Hitokiri
• Rainbow Six Quarantine
• The Division 2: Episode 3
• The Division 2 - The Movie 
• Gods & Monsters

Stay tuned tomorrow when I cover the rest of the conferences from E3 2019. In the meantime, let us know what you are excited for in the comments below!

Until next time.


Article by Susan N.

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BigBen and Nacon will Attend E3 2019

Lesquin (France), May 9, 2019 – BIGBEN is happy to announce that they will be participating in E3 2019, which will take place June 11th through 14th at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This unmissable video game industry gathering is the perfect opportunity for Bigben to showcase their 2019 lineup of games and PC and PS4 gaming accessories.

– You can find BIGBEN and NACON in the West Hall, Stand #4522 –

VIDEO GAMES

Journalists will get the chance to discover Bigben's upcoming video games with the various studio’s developers present:

The Sinking City (Frogwares): An adventure and investigation game inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft where the player plays as Charles, a private detective who has just arrived in Oakmont, Massachusetts, to investigate the cause of an unprecedented supernatural flood. Unravel the mystery starting June 27th on PC, PlayStation®4, and Xbox One

Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory (Black Shamrock): The Computer has made you a Troubleshooter with a red security clearance! Your mission is to track down traitors in Alpha Complex and neutralise them. Adapted from the popular tabletop role-playing game, Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory is an RPG with novel mechanics in a dystopian universe packed with dark humour.

WRC 8 (Kylotonn): After a 2-year absence, the official game is back with new, more realistic physics, more technical tracks, pacenotes that have been completely redone to improve fluidity, dynamic weather during races, and a completely redesigned career mode.

Overpass (Zordix Racing):  In this off-road simulation centred on overcoming obstacles, the player takes control of powerful buggies and quads racing across extreme tracks and incredibly hazardous terrain.

Bee Simulator (Varsav Game Studios):  Collect pollen, interact with your peers, with the queen, and with other animal species. Freely explore Honey Park, a universe inspired by Central Park. Become the bee that will save your swarm from the humans as you complete the main and secondary missions.

The Fisherman – Fishing Planet (Fishing Planet LLC): All the content of Fishing Planet, the gold standard for fishing simulations, gathered in a single premium edition for consoles and PC, and sprinkled with exclusive elements. Players can try out several fishing techniques and try to hook over 100 different species of fish whose artificial intelligence is based on the actual behaviour of each individual species.

Farmer’s Dynasty (Toplitz Productions): Farmer's Dynasty offers an experience that's unique in its genre by mixing together mechanics from construction and management simulations, farming simulations, role-playing games and life simulation games. Life a farmer’s life: build your farm, found a family, and harvest your fields.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood (Cyanide):  Presented for the first time at E3, Werewolf: The Apocalypse is the first action-RPG game adapted from the eponymous role-playing game. Embodying Cahal, a banished werewolf who must come to the aid of his threatened clan, the player will learn to control the devastating Rage they can unleash to punish those who pollute, destroy, and corrupt Gaia, the Earth Mother.

Other games will be revealed at our stand…

ACCESSORIES

At E3, NACON will show off their latest PC and PS4 accessories, including the Revolution Unlimited Pro Controller, the Daija Arcade Stick, and also the Asymmetric Wireless Controller.

About Bigben

Bigben is a major player in video game publishing, in the design and distribution of smartphone and gaming accessories as well as furnishing customized audio products. Known for its innovation and creativity, the company group aims to become a leader in each of its industries. For more information about Bigben: www.bigben.fr

About NACON™

NACON™ have been creating accessories for PC and PS4 gamers since 2014. By offering a wide range of equipment for every type of gamer, the brand has built a community of professionals and gaming enthusiasts throughout Europe. Supported by many partners, and attending all the biggest eSports and gaming events (Gamers Assembly, Paris Games Week, Dreamhack, GDC, E3, Gamescom, Lyon eSport, MixUp), NACON has the ambition to pursue this adventure on an international scale; perfecting its accessories thanks to its public support. www.nacongaming.com


Article by Susan N.

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E3 2014 and why 'Trust' is the key this year

Last year saw a different kind of E3 than gamers were used to. For starters, there were almost no genuine surprises in this day and age of instant media saturation. On top of that, Microsoft and Sony came ready to take center stage with their hardware while Nintendo opted to sit on the sidelines and find a different way to try and connect with their fans. A lot of strong feelings emerged from that show, but I think a new kind of theme is going to be key during 2014's E3 conference.

Trust.

Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony and other publishers will need to show gamers that they can be trusted this year, which will prove more important than ever as they fight for our dollar.

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inFAMOUS Second Son - E3 Trailer

This is probably the AAA title I am most interested in out of the entire conference. I really enjoyed the first game, and have recently started playing the second and am enjoying that as well.

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Metal Gear Solid V - E3 Trailer

Microsoft kicked their Xbox One conference off by showing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, and with good rason.

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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - E3 Trailer

Here is a nice long six-minute trailer for the follow-up to the first Lords of Shadow, which I liked quite a bit when I reviewed it.

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Shin Megami Tensei IV - E3 Trailer

Some people are really down on the prospects of Nintendo's E3 showings, especially for the Wii U. Personally, it looks like there are a lot of cool 3DS titles coming, and one of those is Shin Megami Tensei IV.

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Outlast - E3 trailer

Outlast looks pretty creepy. The first person perspective - in particular through the camera (reminding me a bit of the Fatal Frame series - my favorite horror titles of all-time), really looks like it will be effective.

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Daylight - E3 announcement

I can safely say I am a big fan of suspense and horror games. Atlus announced a new title called Daylight at E3 that looks to fit that bill.

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The Order: 1886 - E3 Trailer

One of the first titles Sony showed off during their PlayStation 4 part of the conference was The Order: 1886. There are a lot of different elements shown off here, such as supernatural creatures, advanced weaponry and a distinctive time period.

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Project X Zone - E3 trailer

This one's had my eye since it was first announced for release over in Japan, so when I heard it was coming stateside to the 3DS - I was pretty excited.

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Rain - E3 trailer of what looks like a unique game

This was one of those short teases during Sony's conference, but the music, visuals - just something about it immediately caught my eye.

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E3 - Nintendo Gaming Thoughts...

I guess I just was not feeling this year's showing by Nintendo. Truth be told, I have been a little down on their last few, so I suppose this was seen as a safer, cheaper way of presenting what is to come - but it felt a little like bowing out to me as well.

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E3 - Sony Gaming Thoughts...

I already wrote up my thoughts on Microsoft's presentation earlier, which I thought was far better than the last several conferences, including their E3's and earlier Xbox One announcements. Now Sony has revealed their console, plenty of games, and touched on some of their non-gaming functionality.

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E3 - Microsoft Gaming Thoughts...

Lots going on in this conference, and I will start right off by saying this one left me feeling much better about the direction of the Xbox One than Microsoft's initial conference did. When one of their opening comments is "It's all about the games" - well, I feel like they were back on the right track.

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Free Fable 3, E3, lots of posts coming soon... - Updated!

Good morning - I hope everyone had a nice weekend? Mine was good - busy, but good. Equal parts yard work, playing Persona 4 Golden, playing Magic: The Gathering both with cards and on the PC with my son, playing Rush Bros with my son, watching the season finale of Game of Thrones and more. Oh, and writing lots of reviews.

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Highlights from E3 - Part 7

So maybe I spoke just a bit too soon about Nintendo not having any other franchises to talk about.  Even better?  They threw a bone to Wii owners as well with...

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Highlights from E3 - Part 6

Brraaaaaiiiiiiiinssss.....

It's amazing how popular zombies have become in our culture of late.  Between that and vampires, we seem to enjoy our undead, but personally I am just about zombie-d out.  Even so, the game...

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Highlights from E3 - Part 5

One of the best things about E3 in my opinion, is getting to see cutting edge visuals on display.  I already touched on the Final Fantasy demo, but one of the most notable announcements came from Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream with...

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