It seems that I am getting my wish. Another update to a game that I was looking forward to gets announced and…its a delay. Battlefield Heroes was pushed back to later this year into the heap of chaos that is Fall/Winter releases. I can easily see this get pushed into 2009.
Monthly Archive for July, 2008
Finally, Bionic Commando: Rearmed will be released soon. But what does that say about the PC version which seems to be absent from a particular blog announcing the XBLA and PSN versions.
For a while now I’ve been wondering where some games went.
Bionic Commando: Rearmed (PC, 360, PS3)
For example, I remember a Bionic Commando supposed to be released sometime this year. While I’m not impatient, they have been hyping this game for a while now and I’m starting to wonder will we ever get to see it. Its main remake, Bionic Commando obviously is going to be released in October this year which is not too far away now.
SSFTHD (PC, 360, PS3)
Another from Capcom coincidentally is Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix (now say that 10 times fast). This game is supposed to be released before Street Fighter IV which is now slowly taking the lead in development time. The Arcade version is already done and the console version is on the way. This game is going to become a foot note to SF4 if they don’t ramp it up.
Battlefield Heroes (PC)
The free MMO style Battlefield game with the new buisness model that is supposed to be a success is now in closed beta. The open beta is supposed to be this summer. Well, summer it is and the game still is not available to the immediate public. Those who I have read about in closed beta says the game is very ready for open beta. Though this is a free game, I am willing to wait but there are many other emerging free games being released this year more than anything. This can be overshadowed if they don’t make a move soon.
So, that was some E3 huh? I’m pretty sure that USA Today and Fox News will be buzzing about the latest Nintendo shovelware that was announced. The traditional market however is not that amused by what happened. Microsoft announced a casual focus including Mii ripoffs called “Avatars”. They have also mentioned a mega dashboard update which looks heavily derivative of Windows Media Center and Apple’s Front Row. Among the dark cloud’s sliver lining, Netflix compatibility, Gears Of War 2, a new game called Lost Remnant and a full fledged Final Fantasy game which was once exlusive to the PS3.
Speaking of the PS3, its announcements was as easliy boring save for a Little Big Planet, Powerpoint like display of Sony accomplishments. Resitance & improvements to the PS3’s online offerings has also has seemed to save the day.
Third Party Developers are the winners here in this aspect. Many popular 3rd party games were displayed and announced. PC gaming is also getting a lot of attention, where once developers on console would have never thought of porting a game to the PC is now porting them en masse. I guess you can thank Microsoft for that or the fact that the PC has always been a big platform with many potential customers. If you haven’t yet noticed this trend, then you need to look no further than world renowned Capcom Entertainment. Many of its top sellng titles are being ported to PC including Devil May Cry and Street Fighter IV which fully take advantage of the power available.
The most disappointing of the 3rd Party fun was Konami. The Rockband competitor called Rock Revolution looked lack luster and disappointing to those who have experienced both Guitar Hero and Rockband. Also, the showing of a Wii Castlevania fighting game that looks worse than Soul Calibur II on the Gamecube. A saving grace maybe was a showing of the DS title Order of Ecclesia.
Overall, E3 atleast to me is circling the drain before it falls through it.
On another note, I came across a free game called TrackMania Nations Forever. TrackMania is a very good looking racing game that throws Mario Kart like tracks in the mix. The physics of the cars allows you to run through loops, half pipes, super jumps and multiple air tricks. The game also has editors for custom cars and tracks. ITs counterpart TrackMania United Forever is a retail game that unlocks several features. This game could easily be free across the board if the advertising placements were more robust. For now there seems to be only two types of banners in the game, one for Toyota and another for one other company. The TrackMania Forever games also has an online mode which lets you race against people via lan or the Nadeo servers. (Nadeo is the name of the developer.) I like the game for the most part but most of the one lap tracks leaves you wanting more.
Its that smell again. The heat, sweat and tears of a bunch of gamers shoehorned into one convention center for about a week. A number of games are slated to be announced and a ton more will have demos and videos. My interests however is the rumors of a surprise Nintendo game that is supposed to woo the hardcore despite the WiiFit pimpage. And of course, many PC game makers are planning surprises as well. Its all wait and see from here on out.