We’ve already presented you with some highlights from Microsoft’s and Sony’s press conferences, so now it’s Nintendo’s turn. As expected, Nintendo showed off it’s upcoming next-gen console, the Wii U. However, some of the aspects they decided to showcase left me with mixed feelings.
Here are some of the biggest highlights from Nintendo’s E3 2012 press conference.
Yesterday evening Sony presented their E3 2012 press conference, and in stark contrast to Microsoft started by revealing a brand new IP. For the most part Sony focused much more on games than supplementary services or features.
Here are some of the biggest highlights from Sony’s show.
In a press release today, THQ announced that they reached a deal with Zuffa, LLC that will see “resulting in Zuffa licensing to Electronic Arts Inc. the right to publish videogames based on the Ultimate Fighting Championship brand.” While the release also mentions an “undisclosed cash payment to THQ,” it failed to mention the bad news. Today, THQ shut down its San Diego studio.
In a statement to Destructoid, THQ confirmed that “the UFC license transition will affect the company’s San Diego studio. THQ is working closely with those relevant staff to either find possible employment within the company, or potentially with EA.” THQ’s San Diego studio was responsible for the UFC Undisputed games and WWE All-Stars. I hope that all those affected by these waves of layoffs sweeping through the industry land on their feet.
Microsoft wrapped up their E3 2012 press conference earlier this morning, and while there weren’t any mind-blowing new announcements, it wasn’t the worst conference E3 has ever seen.
Here are a few of the biggest highlights from Microsoft’s show.
Capitalizing on all the E3 hype, Valve announced the release date for the upcoming Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. CS: GO will launch simultaneously on XBLA, PSN, PC, and Mac on August 21, 2012.
The original Counter-Stike came out almost 13 years ago, and this new release will feature new maps, characters, and weapons. It will also have updated versions of classic maps like “de_dust.” CS: GO will cost around $15 or 1600 Microsoft Monoply Money Dollar Points.
Warner Brothers has just announced that Guardians of Middle Earth, a MOBA style game, is now in development from Monolith Productions. It’s set to release on the Xbox 360 and PS3 later this year, and will feature 5v5 battles with various marquee characters from the lore. If you’re not familiar with the term MOBA, think DotA. The term MOBA itself is short for “Multiplayer Online Battle Arena”.
As hardcore Tolkien fans are aware of, there were very little actual magic users alive in the Third Age, so packing the game full of them might create an issue, and devalue the enjoyment of the game for some (like Lord of the Rings Conquest). Also, the prospect of Gollum potentially fighting Morgoth (Sauron’s boss) would be pretty absurd (and yet so awesome at the same time).
Today id Software announced they will be releasing Doom 3 BFG Edition on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC this fall. But this is no ordinary console port! No sir. The BFG Edition is getting remastered graphics, new levels, Achievements and Trophies, and more.
This special edition also includes Doom, Doom 2, Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil, and seven brand new levels which id is calling the “Lost Mission.” Other features include 3D support, a new checkpoint system, and an armor-mounted flashlight, thus fixing one of the game’s biggest problems according to fans. Since Doom was one of the first games I ever played, I’m really looking forward to getting to experience a “director’s cut” of Doom 3.
[Source: Joystiq]
As part of THQ’s restructuring plan, the company appointed Naughty Dog co-founder Jason Rubin as its president, effective immediately. Most gamers recognize Naughty Dog as the studio that developed hit series like Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted, and Jak & Daxter.
According to THQ’s statement, Rubin will be responsible for “worldwide product development, marketing, and publishing operations, and will report to Brian Farrell, THQ Chairman and CEO.” A second Jason–Jason Kay–also joined THQ as its new Chief Strategy Officer.
Confession time: I’ve barely touched The Binding of Isaac ever since I first downloaded it. However, I have a feeling that the fact that the Wrath of the Lamb DLC is now available on Steam might cause me to spend some more time in Isaac’s creepy disgusting world.
For just $2.99, Wrath of the Lamb adds new items, chapters, achievements, bosses, and more. According to the developers this expansion adds 50% more content to the game. Sounds like a much better deal than some of the other DLC packs out there. I’m looking at you, horse armor.
Good news, lovers of pain! While the servers for the acclaimed Demon’s Souls were scheduled to go offline at the end of this month, Atlus released a statement today that said they are leaving the game’s servers on for the “foreseeable future.”
Tim Pivnicny, the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Atlus, said, “While it originally seemed as though it would be unfeasible for us to continue to sustain the servers, a number of developments have made it possible for us to continue to invest in and support our fans as they have continued to invest in and support us and Demon’s Souls.” If gamers continue to stay invested in the game, Atlus said they have not ruled out the possibility of more extensions.
Things have gone from bad to worst and then to even worse than that for Rhode Island-based 38 Studios, the game studio owned by former pitcher Curt Schilling. After over a week of negativity surrounding the studio and its outstanding loans to the tune of $75 million, yesterday the studio laid off the entire staff of nearly 400–288 of them based in Rhode Island and another hundred at the Maryland-based subsidiary Big Huge Games.
If that’s not bad enough, it turns out that several employees of the now-staff-less studio were told that they may be stuck with second mortgages from the houses they thought the company sold for them when they relocated to Rhode Island.
Over the weekend, I spent approximately three hours farming the materials and the 150,000 gold required to enter the secret level in Diablo III. It was kind of a pain, but it was completely worth it to be able to send three of my friends in utterly free of charge, and enjoy it with them before most of it was sufficiently spoiled.
Because most of the guides I’ve found aren’t particularly concise in their directions, and provide spoilers to boot, I’m going to make a completely spoiler-free guide on how to access the secret level itself. Read more… »
