My First Impressions On: Nintendo Switch

   This was  meant to be put up a week ago, but it got away from me. 

      I'm not going to speak much on the Nintendo Switch, because I've not played it, I've seen very little of what the software will be/look like, and quite frankly, I do. It have enough information on it pass the big Nintendo press conference reveal. However, I've seen enough of it to know that what it merits is a trend, a gimmick which doesn't necessarily innovate, but rather follows more the market trend.

   Let's look at the facts about the press conference, because people playing the system, which i was shocked that Nintendo didn't piss in the eyes of everyone playing their system online to showcase it, it did look fun, even interesting beyond the Nintendo standards. The system itself had become the peripheral for better or for worse, and the show itself showed off a great deal of the games the system would suppor at, around, or within six months of launch. 

The games are standard Nintendo, nothing necessarily a huge surprise, excluding perhaps one title: No More Heroes III, but otherwise, it was about the games. This is rather refreshing for Ninentod, whilst other companies always pushed games, Nintendo  has always been the biggest offender of pushing a system, or a new peripheral, or a certain new color/controller that is livid edition, but then we see nothing but a big Zelda reveal at the end of the conference. Sure, we had typical Square Enix, we've see typical third party publishers coming forth, but what makes me really excited was they still focused more on their games, and pushed to showcase just what the system does, the versatility of it, but also that the system would run on a battery that can be played while be charged. For a full-on console, which fhis is being pressed as, not just some gimmick handheld, it will work well in that regard. However, the system doesn't have a camera, it doesn't have standards for most other tablets, and we know how wretched Nintendo handles apps, how it's online store is about as user-friendly as cuneiform, and there is absolutely no social media connection. 

     The system has some bad, bad traits that should never be allowed in the standard market.  Nintendo Switch is itself a trend though, it isn't going to measure up in-regards to technology, graphics, or even a processor equivalent to say, the PS4, or Microsoft's Xbox One, it'll be even harder for it to compete against next generation consoles that will be coming out soon. 

     Honestly, I've counted out Nintendo for years, generations even, but they still seem to survive, they always seem to continue to move forward, and now we are getting a system that (for Nintendo) is pushing their personal limits. Although many people disagree with me in graphics, I tend to hold my opinion in a higher regard, in-terms of stating that a newer system should exceed the graphical abilities, and the processing pot of its former system. Sue, you can have retro games, that's a marker choice, not a market limitation. Still, once the full specifications are released, the true ones, not the nonsensical a ones that don't fit the true capabilities of the system, then, and only then will I believe that this system is a far-greater superior one of the Wii U, which was abandoned immediately after launch with little-to-no innovation. To be fair, most launches for all three newer systems were met with terrible innovations, even pressing past generation successes as HD remakes. 

    Honestly I don't think there is any reason that this system will be revolutionary, I think it's going to be mismanaged, aimed st American children, and leaving out most things children use. It's like your granddaddy made a system, but he left out all the things you love to do. It'll be great for long flights, it'll be lovely for keeping on a dorm room desk, and it'll be great for Mario party with up to eight people playing at once. At three hundred launch price, which a huge asterisk next to that one, it's a mixed bag of good and bad. Fanboys will love it regardless of the circumstances. This untested loyalty, perturbed by some monopolistic demagoguery forces these companies to do as they please, slide by with no check, no balance, just a blinding admiration towards companies that make so many false promises, taking on more they can chew, and asking us to deal with that, rather than be held accountable. Granted, Nintendo has usually launched with minor discrepancies, but the quality the business has plundered so greatly is only juxtaposed by the ecclesiastical surge of script writing for games. Dialogue exists again be use of gaming, some of the best written across all platforms and mediums. 

    This is not mutually exclusive to games, film (sic) if you'd like to call it that has become one of the worst offenders as well. The question now is will The Nintendo Sietch be successful? Will it become one of those systems that changes the game? The original Wii did this, becoming increasingly of the most successful systems of Nintendo's modern cycles. Or will it be just another console that fails, or sales that are less-than-stellar? I was raised on Nintendo, so my words aren't meant to be harmful, I question strongly because I am sick of the unaccountability of video game journalists, and the lack of accountability from these companies that put out wonton junk games that simply do not have any serious repercussions, because the fans journalist give them w pass, because it is now a sexy rope to, a quasi fame to write articles, but hold no accountability to the companies they report upon. 

    This problem comes more from companies buying journalists, from buying publications, and media outlets needed to get clicks, not holding people accountable. Nintendo gets hit hard normally, but guess what? You still need to hold some wccountability,and if that means tearing down a childhood hero, it means you do your damn job. This is ALL media, and the fact is media needs a paradigm to swoop in and then check it, a rather who watches the watchmen argument. I can, because I have no dog in this fight, say that Nintendo's system is looking to have one of the more prominent launches, and the rumor of the system being cartridge-based makes me believe that the abandonment of what is a far-superior source to  those dreaded discs is a smarter move. In-the-end, Nintendo Switch holds the future of the company in-hand. The good thing is, we don't have long to wait to see this system up-close, and personal. The Switch will release in March, and we will be able to mass-market test-run it, and see if this will transform the gaming market for the better. If not, it'll be the first dud imto the next console cycle.  o

       

E3 2016 Review Part 2: Sony Press Conference

   Sony Playstation is my main system, and I was excited to see the Sony Press Conference, which turned out to be more than what I was expecting, because we all know now that it was the most elusive company, releasing very few, if any hints on what major IP titles that were to be expected so-far. Sony usually disappoints in that it sometimes gives away too much, and it's hard to digest just what there was to actually review. Still, Sony tends to aggravate me with much discussion in everything but games, V.R., for a prime example of the peripheral apocalypse that is coming soon, is being forced upon us by industry standards. 3-D failed last year, so now they want us commit to V.R.  Which makes wonder: why would I go out to by a 4K television, when all I'm going to see is a shitty little 4K screen that probably looks about as fun to wear for long periods of time than a giant toad sitting on my head? Why would I want to buy an awesomely huge television when I'll be forced to wear this shitty hardware on my head? Seems this push for VR, which has been around. Longer than most gamers have been alive, is going to pacify a minority of gamers that want change, but the majority don't want a VR experience, they want good games. 

    Sony was able to deliver a rather abrupt, and for them, that's an understatement, Press Conference, it was almost short enough, or rather, compiled enough to be a Bethesda or EA conference. This doesn't mean it didn't pack a punch, it packed a great deal of gameplay into a short time, it almost felt like I was watching a bunch of trailers, and with little interruption. The conference went well, quite well, and although I was not necessarily excited for everything shown, but I was far more excited than what even Bethesda promised to bring out, excluding perhaps a Skyrim remake.  

    The conference opens with a beautiful standard done by an orchestra and chorus. The opus opens up the scenes of a game that many were hoping for: God of War 4, which is a new take on the mythology, now turning to Nordic Gods and monsters. The game looks amazing, almost Game of Thrones meets Vikings, but it has a story that I want to play. Kratos has a son, and it seems the mother has died, and left her blade for the son, this gives me a bit of an idea on just what to expect: Kratos isn't some Greek tragic hero that is bound by vengeance, and forced to die, while having a brutal upbringing, and dare-I-say, origin story. The gods are completely different in Nordic Mythology. Odin, Frigga, Thor, and the likes are not of any semblance of the Greek mythology, and this game looks to seperate Kratos ins almost the same manner. I must admit, it looks damn good, the story may be one of the best of the series, and the fighting system seems slightly updated, although shades of the older system are seen throughout. 

   The gameplay shown is at least ten minutes in length, it follows Kratos and son enroute to hunt deer, which the son misses the shot,mbut both track it, similar to how you track the deer in the Last of Us, in-fact, that's exactly what it reminds me of, and I was quite impressed on just how beautiful the Nordic scenery looked. The game, if that's exactly how it will appear in the finished product, blows away the details of any current game I've seen on current generation systems. I was also impressed by the first mini-boss battle (and calling it a mini boss is a fucking joke) against a mountain troll. It reminds me of other God of War battles,mbut it's still done well enough to have kept me glued to the screen. The troll smashes the ice beneath them, and falls, but there is a back-and-forth between Kratos and his son (DISCLAIMER: I'm not entirely sure the character will be named Kratos, but it is universally accepted thwt it is going to be the name of the main character, and they do say Kratos, but time will tell.)  survive the pitfalls, but the hunt goes on, as they converse further into the plot points, but then the deer is found, and the son takes aim, which leads me to believe you may be able, for a short period to switch between the two characters, hitting the deer with the arrow. The son then cannot come to kill the deer, so Kratos helps him finish the deer off, teaching a life lesson on survival and give-and-take of life. The game looks spectacular, and I wasn't sure I'd be as interested in the game becaue the last one was less than appetizing, but this game looks to be something different, more mature than the past games, and based more in the trend of the Viking/Game of Thrones/Barbarian themes that have been coming around. Also the dragon that helps close out the gameplay was fifty/fifty, but kept my enthusiasm alive nonetheless.

    I've done reviews of God of War 2 years ago, and I wanted to do one of God of War 3, but I don't believe I got to it. I've been a fan of the games, but this one looks so unique, it may as well be it's very on IP. Overall the game was not a surprise, but it still surprised me on just how damn good it looks to be. Of course, we will have to wait until early 2017 to see if this is all hype, or a potential modern classic for the PS4. 

    Next, we saw some more of the Last Guardian, which will have a release date on October 25th, 2016. Now, I'm not sure this game will be deemed worthy of a preorder, because it is what is called in business a dog, and no, the pun wasn't intended. If anything this is a dirty, rabid dog, that either going to have a whole lot of bite, or a dog that is all bark, and well....becomes the greatest failure in modeling gaming history. It still looks amazing, and is still secretive, but this game is now over a decade old, and it was announced in 2009, this was a last generation console title, now reimagined as a Playstation 4 exclusive...such radical times we live in, and such a wonton E3 these past two years have been. I say this becaue very little has changed in the last year: the only game we are actually playing on our systems that was promised is Fallout 4, and everything else might as well have been announced as vapor ware. Still, Sony had left out that dreamscape game completely that Media Molecule had promised, and although Titanfall 2, with a single player campaign is guaranteed to come to PS4, there wasn't any news on Destiny, or other titles that are out and exclusive. With the Last Guardian a shoe-in for 2016, we may now see new games, and new systems seem inevitable now as well. 

     Then they showed off a great amount of Horizon: Zero Dawn. In the gameplay, it showed that you can take command of certain animal machines, and takedowns using different sorts of weapons, while collecting components. The game looks amazing for what it is, and it's been a long time coming. 

    Next was Detroit: Become Human, a new game from Insomniac Dreams,mshich looks amazing,mand kind of looks like a cross between Heavy Rain and Blade Runner. This game is essentially going to have at least five different endings for each scenario that plays out. The combinations are nearly limitless giving this game the most replay value I've seen in years. 

  Then there was mention of a new FPS called Farpoint, which is like a space exploration title. The mention of Playstation VR being release Oct. 13th at $399 was not a surprise,mbut the fact it will have fifty titles that will work, including, fallout 4, Bstman Arkham VR, FFXV, and many more. Then the announcment thwt Titanfall 2 would be coming to PS4, and would include a complete offline campaign mode was another shocking moment that left most people wanting more. The game looks bigger, and better than its prequel. Another game netizens for the VR headset was Star Wars Battlefrotn X Wing VR Missions, which also looked to be a serious contender. 

   I mentioned resident Evil 7 earlier,mbut of you have Playstation Plus, you can download the 17 minute teaser playable trailer now.  Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens was up next, and this was cute as the usual Lego games are, but not my speed. 

   Finally, there was snoet gamplay showcase of Days Gone,mshich showed off the main character going into a saw mill after someone that he's trying to chase down and bring back to his base camp, but is overrun by infected people or zombies. The number of enemies on screen at once was nothing short of incredible, and I question if here's going to be a way for it to work, without crashing that is. 

   Sony killed it this year,mand I cannot wait to play a multitude of the games shown! I'll have more I apart 3, wheree I tackle Bethesda, EA, and Ubisoft. I won't be reviewing Nintendo's Treehouse because it's just too much to watch, and, and not enough time to write, plus half those games won't see the light of day until mid 2017. 

   Thank you so much for reading the Malacast Editorial! 

    

    

E3 2016 Preview Post

   E3 is exactly one month away (from the time of writing this post) so I've decided to write this preview post, and discuss my thoughts on the industry itself, what I expect to see from E3 this year, what we'll definitely be seeing come June, and my analysis on the decisions developers are making, and what companies strategies are being implemented to gain the digital upper hand in the future. 

     E3 2016 begins the 14th and goes to the 16th of June. The week kicks off the 13th, as the largest event in gaming and trade shows begins. Perhaps the most important take on what will be heading into the new year of gaming, I think this year is very, very make-or-break. It appears that developers are losing traction for consoles, as gaming consoles seem to be getting forced out of the market by the "PC Master Race" yet we all know that the sales disregard the consumer argument.  This could be the last generation of consoles, which I think is more a Pulitzer scare tactic, not based in facts,mbut becaue of obscure choices the gaming industry has holistically made over the last five years.

   I think that the gaming world is going to be set ablaze this year; this could be the biggest E3 of all-time, and there's a good chance that surprises will be abound. Some are even saying that saying never doesn't necessarily mean never, as rumors of another Marvel vs. Capcom may be coming out sooner than we'd think. I'm. To entirely sure this is going to happen, but if it does, we could see the reinvention  of the series, which will not be anything short of a miracle. Yet with Shenmue 3's announcment last year,mand a reimagining of Final Fantasy VII, there's always room for more miracles.

     There are rumors also of a new god of War based in Norse Mythology. It would be cool to see Kratos ripping the wings off Valkyries, and kicking the shit out of Odin, while he rides that big-ass dogsled, because I'm certain the Greek mythology is growing stale, and there seems to be a Game of Thrones and Dragons movement in the industry currently. Imitation is the most sincerest form of lack of Ingenuity it seems, so there's defiantly going to be a swift movement towards indie titles, so that trend isn't ending anytime soon. 

     E3 2016 could also be a flop, because when gaming gurus try to do anything that involves the public, they come off like corporate head gaskets that mumble like buffoons. And when they try to get celebrity spokespeople to sub in, it's usually a clusterfuck of bad moves, and  ore awkwardness than a social defunct at a raver. They are so out-of-touch, and look like your father and mother trying to be hip, it's no wonder they die on stage worst than a pro-Hitler comedy act. They're as funny as a holocaust denial cartoon contest in the dead center of Auschwitz. I really needed more holocaust references on the blog, so I'm glad I got two in a row. 

   The point is: E3 speaks for itself, and can have really, really bad presentations, but the games speak for themselves. Sony did great last year, just letting the games speak for themselves, and Bethesda delivered where even Square Enix has yet to, becoming my favorite  developer/publisher of our age.  Bethesda is the team people want to have behind their game. They made sure Doom didn't suck as much, and is one of the more definitive FPS experiences of this generation, as it should be, being the grandfather of the modern shooter. 

   Nintendo will release the NX details as well, but this is old news, but who knows exactly what they are going to do, I've give. Up I. Them, and tend only survive because Millennials do f want to see a big company they love die out. Truthfully, I'm for something better replacing the shit that's in the market currently, but E3 isn't going to do anything but make me wonder if gaming is going g to make me feel older and older, like a curmudgeoned fossil. This generation seems to just accept things as they are, they don't seem to have the energy to complain, or expect better, (in other words, they're weak, and will put up with almost anything,rather than face opposition.) In-truth, we need to see  compliant  developers  finish the job, and give us a solid experience, and to grow, rather than a few bicker and argue, so the gaming community only get a few titles a year, instead of many.  The gaming industry is becoming frighteningly similar to that of the movie industry, and it will be the death of the medium. 

   I do to want to harp about E3 that much becaue I will be doing at least two posts on it wen the video is streaming/recorded, and I will have my full review/a analysis, so until then, let's delve into some predictions, and see how many become reality, I will make ones that aren't obvious rumor already, or officially confirmed:

    1) Sony will announce a platform similar to the Ericson phone where they're entire catalog can be played, meaning access from phone, tablet, computer, etc. this will launch in two-and-half years, or whenever the end of the console cycle comes. It would be smart to do virtual play like Steam so games are no longer locked down to dying consoles, but not necessarily giving into  the  PC empire. 

  2) there will be an announcment thwt the PS4 will be the last console, and there will be a virtual plethora of all PS1,2, and 3 titles in the Playstafion Store, in compliance to my first prediction. 

3) Nintendo will launch the NX in 2017 Holiday Season with a large list of launch titles, which will be the biggest launch event of the system. I also predict Mario will get a whole new look, dropping the iconic cartoon stylings for soemthing more modern, but still functional. 

4) granted, these predictions are somewhat unrealistic, so let's try something that more plausible: Bethesda will show off gameplay of Dishonored 2, tease Elder Scrolls Vi, and tease new DLC for Season 2 of Fallout 4, Season Pass will still apply of you bought it early. 

5) Crash Bandicoot will not come back, NaughtyDog doesn't own it anymore, but Naughty Dog will have to showcase something new, as Uncharted 4 has just released, perhaps DLC, but I say new IP altogether. As much as I want, I don't believe the Last of Us 2 is coming, but if it does, it will be rather askewed to the original game, ie, different main protagonists, or new gameplay style. Naughty Dog just closed a chapter on a game series that defined the last generation, allowing Somy to now win two console wars in a row, a new IP is inevitable.

6) Microsoft will do soemthing stupid, and try to force feed their customers with shit they don't want, and games that will never see the light of day...in other words, typical Microsoft. 

7) Shooter-Palooza, because you wonks keep buying them. 

8) somebody falls off the stage, or becomes so confused, you'd swear they we're smoking a bowl in the back prior. Oh, and Ubisoft will make you yawn with applause. 

9) Dreamcast titles imported over to DLC stores...just kidding. 

10) More games with Michael Bay-like explosions. 

So these are my shady predictions, the first few are at least serious. Judging by what we're seeing, it seems that the greatest generation of gaming is now officially in the past. So as polarizing as my statements seem, I do believe that this year will supersede last year, but that is not really hard to do. 

Thank you of reading the Malacast Editorial. This is just my short preview post for E3, I assure you I will have a full-depth analysis of all the press conferences, I will do all of them, and it will be broken up I to at least two posts. This was more a farce because my predictions/preview post has already gone up, but e3 will ring in the new beginning of the Malacast Editorial.  For now, I shall bid you, good reader, adieu, as we approach the historical showcase that is E3 2016. 

E3 Predictions for 2016

NOTE: All bold words are predictions.  Any updates from now (March 2016) until publication (April or May 2016)  will be noted at the emboldened areas of the posts. 

When June comes around,you can bet I'm like a little kid again, because E3 announcements will be eating up my Twitter feed, and I'll see a boost in how many tweets I send out, while writing live on the Malacast Editorial, and doing full-on reviews. I'm also a fan of making predictions, not because I think I'm on the threshold of the gaming industry, but because I like to make more honest, intelligent predictions than what pipe dreams other reviewers expect are going to happen. Rather than shots In the dark, I'll admit the obvious like new titles in old IPs,  but it's more what a company will do, rather than a game that's named. It is a volatile market, and games supposed to be out last year, or in the case of The Last Guardian, thirty years ago (it's sarcasm, but not by much)  I tend to see trends rise from the people, rather than the sample groups. So here are my predictions for the a mojo emt a and moves made for this year's E3. I'll do a compare/contrast post a week AFTER I put up my review of E3, which will be several days after the last aired day of E3. 

   Firstly, let's discuss the big shows outside of the actual show, and discuss what will happen at the Press conferences. Usually Sony goes first, but with the add-ons of Bethesda, and the first software developer to hold such a large press conference: Ubisoft have ended the fray, it's interesting to see just how the order will fall. 

   So assuming Sony will go second to Nintendo, which is usually the middle between Sony and Microsoft, I'll start with Nintendo first, because it's more shoe-in, rather than speculation. Firstly, Nintendo is one of the few first-party developers that doesn't follow the trends as often as the other marketers. They can decide to release a new Legend of Zelda title tomorrow, (they've recently done an updated HD version of Twilight Princess for Wii U) but it will be a best seller no matter what time it's released, as most parents and children will play the game outside the box. 

   It's a tough company to pin down, but I'm certain their will be a memorial  for Myamoto, who recently passed away. This would not be surprising seeing the unique timing of his death, as it was somewhat mentioned at other shows, but it's not hard to believe they will discuss it to a degree, seeing as Myamoto was a major part of Nintendo Press Conferences. The sad news is still affecting many overseas, and here at home. The man who created Mario, Donkey Kong, and so many other great characters had a major impact on all gamers, despite their "console alliances".

     Getting back to predictions, Nintendo is a front runner in the console wars, so-much-so,mother have their own niche market. Most of the older gamers still play Nintendo-related games, and involve their own children in these games, so it is three, sometimes four generations deep in gameplay. Also, the Wii had expanded the demographic for gaming to include gamers as old as 100, and as young as ten months old. Generations are growing up with gaming being part of their lives, as it was with me, and Nintendo kills in the demographics. 

    I do expect their to be some major titles for the "hardcore" scene, but in discussing games In the Epic Yarn genre, and even a potential Mario Kart installment, I don't necessarily believe that is the hardcore market. Not because the games aren't for the core fans of Nintendo, but it just seems they will do more a Legend of Zelda installment. I think a new IP is plausible. A Splatoon! Sequel/update is another example of shoe-in, but of course the chances are the game is about to release either before, or during E3 is likely, but Nintendo tends to harken the bigger releases towards November and even early December for the holiday season, but seeing as "holiday" season isn't necessarily as vital anymore than say 100-200 years ago, being that religion tends to be less and less of the situation, and spending tends to be far more sporadic, as release dates tend to decide the spending trends rather than months leading up to a major holiday, it's pretty obvious that DLC for these games, and downloadable copies will be the overall trend for Nintendo sales this year. 

  I think that what holds Nintendo back now is DLC, not allowing third-party developers as much freedom as they have at say, Sony, don't allow for reaching that larger market. Nintendo also has made less stride over this year, rehashing older ideas, rather than creating new IPs, which in their market is quite dangerous, but also to not put new installments into tried and tested IPs seems to also be hurting them. I think that since they have sanitized their image as being as close to E-Rated now more than ever,  as T or even M ratings tend to do more harm than good, they will have to put R&D into coming up with new games that take risks, creating new IPs that tie into the world of Nintendo. They've done so with Disney IP rights they've purchased, like Marvel and Star Wars, as games like Disney Infinity(No new game this round, but there will be more support.) have helped, but I truly believe new, original stories and ideas for this upcoming generation will also them some separation from parents and grandparents. Something to call their own. Splatoon! Has helped, but it's not nearly as been impacting as the Mario and Zelda games of the world. I'm sure new Amibos will be out soon, but they're out every several months, but I'm going to predict Pokken Tournament will have rare Amibos that add characters to the game that will be exclusive to E3 several weeks earlier than official release. 

   With the potential Uinversal Studios partnership announcment, there could be a unique film announcement,mand that wouldn't be a stretch, as the film industry has reached out and bounced back with franchises pulling in tons of money. Could we see a Legend of Zelda film be in the making? Quite frankly, I don't doubt it! Seeing Full-Sail University is right down the road from Orlando Florida, and a potential Disney tie-in, a movie could be in the works. Also, this would be historical, as in it's history, no film has been officially announced at a Press Confernce in E3's history. 

  I could list the usual suspects 

  

  Animal Crossing

   Super Smash Bros. NOTE: I don't believe a sequel to Super Smash Bros. Wii U is in the makings yet

    Super Mario Bros. Wii U Sequel etc.

Regardless of what is the actual round of sequels, I think Nintendo will hint at a new console UPDATE: (Nintendo's code name for a new handheld/console system is being called the NX. I believe the actual name will not be Wii related, but be its own platform)and that will be the biggest announcement from them. Although I will end with this: other game publications have stated that Beyond Good and Evil 2 is potentially going to be released as an exclusive to Nintendo, I highly doubt that will happen, and again, it's to an overrated elitist game that few have played, and even fewer want a sequel to, despite outcry from a minority of gamers. 

Moving on to Sony's Press Confernce: this is going to be interesting regardless of what is announced. Sony hasn't really delivered from last year's promises. We are still waiting on Shenmue, and The Last Guardian, two games that really are for the hardcore gamer, but have been hyped beyond belief. These are games that quite frankly don't belong in this market, but seeing as that last year's showcase was about thing up loose ends, this was more to say good-bye, like Uncharted 4: A Thief's End's expected release, that it was the end of a Sony era. Naughty Dog is Sony's biggest exclusive. Quantic Dreams was a close second, but they have gone by the wayside lately with the mixed reviews for Beyond: Two Souls. 

   So I think Naughty  Dog will showcase a new IP, and have exclusive footage, even gameplay at the end of the show. I also believe that something will be announced to replace the God of War series, and judging by the themes going on with gaming like Ark, and Far Cry: Primal, I think it will involve either early tribal gameplay, or something more along the lines of Game of Thrones Medieval, pre Medieval era.  Speaking of Medieval, I believe there will be a potential sequel announcment revealed, although it may get tied up in years of development. Still, this is a game series I actually liked, but find it doesn't belong in this current generation of gaming. 

   Sony has to bring something to the table, and give us information on their V.R. Headset, (Orignally called Project: Morpheus) which was originally supposed to be on this genre ariid gaming console,mbut now is being speculated for the next-gen consoles. Remember, it was told to most gamers that the PS4 was capable of supporting 4K resolution, now I think we are being led to believe it doesn't have that capability.    

 Sony has got to make a vast statement his year, because it's the leading system, and it needs to reliever with huge announcements. We were promised vapor ware more than anything relevant last year, and we haven't even seen Final Fantasy VII yet. What's the lastest news? I believe we will see actual gameplay footage this year, because people kind of forgotten about it, and that is no-good for a timely franchise like Final Fantasy.  If I had to make any serious predictions for Sony, it would have to be that they will most likely expand their PSN store, and add more older games, that being said, the csjnces of seeing exclusive titles like Twisted Metal, which I believed would've been last year's big reveal, is still not likely to happen again this year, as games like GTA tend to be more robust and appealing. Although GTA VI is going to be a long, long way away; that doesn't mean Rockstar won't tease something for either Microsoft or Sony, but the latter seems the better place to show-off their works.  I believe that the Indie market will be slowing up come the next two years, and that trend will start up around the time of the show. 

    Sony has been very secretive these past few years, because they've been trying their hardest to keep the market in suspense, rather than coming up with ideas that won't be tangible until 2018. Microsoft has been surprisingly smart about this as well, giwever a lack of major first-party tiles has been hurting both consoles in equal measure. Sony has promised more, but they have also made good on most promises, as support for the PS4 with Playstation Plus, along with fixingnthenailments of the hacks that came several years ago were able to bring the company closer to their consumers. 

With a designated stance on making games for gamers, I would say that there will be several major moves done by Naughty Dog, with the release of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, it's allowing for the end of an era to taper off with I what made the Sony Playstation 3 a superior console. Although I'm wondering of the bigger announcment will be that the title will be released on the PS3 and PS4 simultaneously, or  a backwards compatibility vefsion of the game released later on in June. My best guess: only if the sales are superior on the Playstation 4 will they even think of making a version on the Playstation 3. However, becaue of such superior sales of PS4s, and HD collections of the first three games, it may not be in Sony's favor to eye-lease the game on the last-generation console. 

  Looking ahead for Naughty Dog, I'm fairly certain either a sequel to The Last of Us will be out, or perhaps new, longer DLC will be on its way. The game sold well on both systems, and has redefined what it means to be playing a video game. So many new concepts for the "hardcore gamers" have been made in the last ten years with PS3, like Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, LittleBigPlanet, and the gaming world's overall concept of chapter gaming like The Walking Dead's Seasons 1 and 2, a Season 3 seems inevitable. Tell-tale could be releasing new ideas, and I believe it will be announced at Sony's Press Conference. Other chapter games like Life is Strange were rather larger, albeit more casual events last year. However, the gaming community, along with it's tastes change so drastically, so rapidly it is barely the mask gamers want to wear when finally brought to fruition in the mainstream. This is why I believe Sony will slow the game down, showcase several new titles, perhaps give more information on that  Dream game which was he aforementioned new title coming from Media Molecule. I believe we will also discover if many Steam games will be heading to console. With the iffy launch of Street Fighter V this year, I'm curious to see if more games will become Sony exclusives in the future. With Destiny, Bungie has made their first foray onto Sony's platform, but will there be a Destiny 2? I certainly don't believe their is a real concern for having a sequel out soon, as the game itself was met with subpar reviews. Although we can acclimate that Activision, (one of the four developers pulling out of E3 altogether) and it makes sense seeing as their bread and butter Call of Duty series hasn't grown nearly as much, nor in strides of competitors in that of Ubisoft, and other FPS developers. 

  Overall, Sony has to bring the games, and not just a limited amount of the rehash and rewind characteristics we've seen over the years. Unless there's a Medieval 2, I refuse to have any excitement for rehashed ideas, because it feel they are not nearly as buzz worthy as new IPs, which Sony needs, whether they agree with me or not. Shenmue wasn't even a promise, but a Kickstarter campaign that could succeed, but still never see the light of day. Also, despite such indie support, the game should look like AAA title, and it looks worse than the Dreamcast versions of the former titles.  Sony needs to bank on the fact they actually stand for what gamers want, or that's how they market themselves. I want to see games that will have me loading up on discs, and having to work double time on reviews, I want more originality, and something to push my PS4 to it's limits....why else did I buy something that's supposed to be Tier 1 in technology and have nothing even close to its full capacity? Time is not on the console world's side, as people already want new tech, which makes me worry that updating a console every tend years will be a gimmick only read about, and that consoles will be out every four years, and updated as often as computers.  Sony needs to impress, and perhaps take a bit more risk, or else they'll lose money in the next console cycle. 

  Microsoft holds a Press Conference either right after Nintnedo, or at the very latest after Sony, but due to Bethesda having held a conference the year prior, and probably hosting the best of the handful showcased at E3 2015, we are slowly being guided towards a less formal introduction as was seen nearly twenty years ago with what is appropriate, and what isn't. I watched last year, and the inter gratin of Virtual Reality headsets, with the Occulus Rift, and the expected Minecraft booze that  would later become Microsoft exclusive, seems to tell us that Microsoft isn't going down without a fight. They are also counting on splitting gamers into fandoms, which usually is a Nintendo tactic, as they are buying up exclusives. Sony did so as well with Street Fighter, but this is doubtful to have the same intense impact as Minecraft. 

   Minecraft 2 could essentially happen at anytime, but it would be aptly seen on next-generation consoles. Current-gen still have versions of Minecraft, even Sony has a console version of the game, which immsure comes with more in-app purchases, but doesn't necessarily play as well as the PC, or Xbox One versions. Microsoft would assumingly make the newest version of Minecraft exclusive to the next Xbox, so unless it's announced that the next generation consoles are coming soon will be at this E3, it's all vapor ware from here on out with all studios, platforms, and DLC regardless of whether or not there are any serious surprises. The gaming journalism community acts almost as semantic in their shock and political standpoints on these issues as would be found in most media these days, but what frustrates me most is making a bad show seem somehow....for sake of the tired pun..."game changing." This is where Microsoft is known to try and fail so often, it's not even playing sides pointing out what they've shown, and what has not ever gone to shelves. Firstly, the Kinect, a classic failure of marketing,mand lack of appropriate software to back it up. Even the gimmick is more for control rather Thani treaction on the other consoles, but a camera is mostly used for love streaming, not playing anymore. 

   Microsoft failed over five years ago when they showed that game of watching a boy grow into a man, and it ereactingmwith him,then it was later revised as more a demonstration,despite it being given the look of a full-fledged game. Sony had done this before as well, and they too have suffered for it, and Eye Toy is nothing more than a need for their other quasi-failure: the Playstation Move. Kinect games looks terrible, the concept of being in a clown body and jumping around, and marketing that as an actual game did not have Microsoft winning any hats in the race of the console war. Still, it's infallible to think that Microsoft doesn't learn from its mistakes....but they don't seem to quite get how marketing works....even throwing Master Chief's beloved helmet up on screen isn't cutting it anymore. Of course you have Cliff Belinzki, who to me is nothing more than an overrated, albeit talented, tool in the market, who I'm sure is a decent guy, is now an old fogey as with other developers that don't appreciate the streak of a few gray hairs. Face it! To the younger generation, anyone over the age of thirty is always going to be foolish and out-of-touch, and really even young developers and producers are having a trouble getting in touch with their demographics....because there's too many of them! 

   Microsoft will flop, not becaue they have an inferior product, but most likely a far superior one, but their marketing is treacherous, their game lineups are old and repeated, and in-comparison to what is being innovated across the street, they are always behind in the count. Unless they do something miraculous, inste of jumping on trends, they are going to be hurting badly. Another Halo or Gears of War announcment will only cement my beliefs, and I will never be a customer to them, period. 

 It may seem like I'm being unfairly harsh in my regards to Microsfot, but it's becaue I want them to be more competitive, Sony had to compete against Xbox with their PS2, and it forced some of the best games in history to be made on all consoles, except the GameCube, which essentially is one of few black marks on Nintendo's resume.  The Virtual Boy and Game Boy Advanced on the two others that should be considered failures. So I'm being critical of Microsoft, but that's because they need to do better, especially when you're so far behind in the game. 

 When discussing Microsoft, and what they will have to do, being behind in the game currently, although that can surely change in the upcoming months. Although Sony has dominated the market for months, Microsoft does have a few opportunities to fix their current predicament. One thing that was suggested, and is supposed to be in the works is a sequel to the sleeper hit Alan Wake, as this was a much larger success than most other games released exclusively for the Xbox 360. Now I know that this particular title wasn't nearly as will received as most others, but the old axiom is that the sequel  will always do better than the original game in a series, and on most occasions, the sequel is seen as the better game: Mortal Kombat II, Twisted Metal II, Silent Hill 2, a point duly made historically, and throughout multiple platforms.  I do believe that an Alan Wake sequel will be coming soon, but not sure if it will be showcased at Microsoft's Press Conference.

     I think we'll like see more information on the latest Gears of War game, and perhaps Halo in some form, but doubtful Halo 6 is going to be hints at, seeing as the release of Halo 5 wasn't that long ago. Microsoft hasn't had much luck with getting gamers interested, they seem to look like the proverbial chicken with its head cut off, running around trying to add peripherals like Nintendo, or trying to compete with Sony in ingenuity, and they don't seem quite sure which route to take. Even when they showcased Rome last year....which I believed flopped as an attempt to take on God of War in-terms of style and gameplay, they tended to miss the point that most GoW fans have already tapped out the third installment. 

   The Xbox One, for all sense and purpose, has been a failure as a machine that cannot deliver even as a Videogame system. Nobody seems to care about the titles that have come out,a dn the same can be said for all the current generation systems, but first-party platform games are what's going to set the stage for the future of this console cycle, and with delays being the most popular game genre out now, even the likes of Doom coming out early next month (May) will not be enough to stoke the fires, and get people pumped for console gaming, regardless of system. Ironically Nintendo stands to gain all the rewards, becaue they are already pushing the limits, making gamers feel as though they are being heard in the development studios, but they have a long, long way to go to gain a following outside the digital kiddie pool. Microsoft needs to gain an identiy, Somy needs to showcase thwt it still has an identity after winning the console war, and Nimtendo needs to expand their identity. 

   With that being said, Microsoft will have to be strong, and snow up to play hard to even stand putting a dent in Somy's armor. Truthfully, they're dead in the water, it's not even a competition,mand that as a gaming fan, saddens me  

Next, I'd like to talk about Bethesda, because I do belie that they will be coming back for another round of press conference announcements this year, although I feel it will be truncated into several group showings with other software publishers/developers. Firstly Bethesda is going to have to tease a new Elder Scrolls, because Elder Scrolls V: has been out now for some time, and I wouldn't be surprised if VI wasn't scheduled for a release date sometime late next year, if not sooner. I would expect some add-ons for Doom, but as it's been announced that Bethesda will have five games in development for some time in the next few years, with an announced fifth insfallment in their Fallout series, I'm certain a Press Conference is inevitable. Also, Bethesda seems to need to showcase their talents,mas they are also publishers, like games such as Dishonored 2 being teased last year. Although it's been several months, nothing has been announced as to the validity of these new titles, or if liscencing and publication will be given to other major franchises.

     Bethesda has done the hard work this time around, and it's paying off. It'll be interesting to see if they continue to turn-out more surprises, but if they don't do a serious demo, I'm certain they'll showcase some software with Microsoft at their Press Conference. As stated above, the chances of being hinted a new Elder Scrolls game is inevitable. I'm not sure they will show-off actual gameplay footage, but I'm certain we are going to see this game out sometime next year. That is my prediction, but Bethesda is a superior company that's hard to pin down. I'm currently still trudging through the Wasteland in Fallout 4, and that has been one of the better videogame experiences in recent history. I'm really looking forward  to Fallout 5 now, but judging by the difficulty it is to get these games out there,,and not being adept to the new software enough to make legitmate "next-generation" console-looking games currently, I expect the fifth installment to be out for Playstation 5(?) and Xbox Two(?) Last year there was an interactive card game made for phones and tablets that was designed after Elder Scrolls mythos.  We may see an update to this, but those are more sporadic changes than expected updates. 

  

I don't normally discuss PC information for E3, simply because PC gaming is not usually the center stage of the E3 convention, and its associate at the press conferences. So I will finish this little teaser with several statements: Sony may hint a new console for two years from now, as Ninetnendo puts an accelerated release date on their NX prototype because that's the best way for them to survive the upcoming (and last, in this humble writer's opinion) console war. I have an idea that due to it's serious success, WB Studios will announce a Superman game, in answer to Rocksteasy's Arkham series. I also believe thee will be a sequel to Injustice: Gods Among Us, but it will have an M-Rating, following the trend set by Deadpool.  Mortal Kombat 11 will get teased, maybe not at a press conference, but it will be a distinct special for them. Bethesda will most likely rule the roost, and we may see that Fallout: New Oreleans tease everyone has been talking about that Obsidian will make, but with the huge success of Fallout 4, I'd like to see them at least state they will make Fallout 5

  

NOTE: I'm now being led to believe that EA, and Disney, who have stated they are not making a new Disney infinity game, but supporting the older software, are pulling out of the trade show. There were two more, but as of now I'm not sure if it's speculation, or fact, because there were multiple sources about Ea having a conference across the street called EAPlay, and that Disney will be tied to them. World of  Tanks studio World Battle(?) is also going to be absent. Will this hurt future E3 trade shows? More information after my review of E3 2016. It should be interesting enough to see what exactly will come true, and what will be completely out of left field in terms of what companies are willing to share ath this trade show. Here's to a profitable year for gaming, and an exciting E3. 

Batman:Arkham Knight Preview and E3: Personal Predictions and First Impressions

 I have yet to write the Mortal Kombat X review, and unlike many of my other post, I'm pretty sure that many more reviews will be as thorough as the one I intend to write, but I will also be including all of the DLC costumes and characters along  with the full-on review. If you've read my Mortal Kombat reviews in the past, you will probably have an idea of just what I'll be adding into my full-review. 

     Despite the amazing performance MK X, we cannot forget thwt there is another sequel coming out that will be ending a series: no, not Uncharted 4: A Theif's End, but good guess! No, I'm talking about Bstman: Arkham Knight. Firstly, this game seems packed, and I mean packed. The story is huge, much bigger than both Arkham City, and Arkham Origins. The introduction of Robin and Nightwing, along with a return of Catwoman seems to be pushing the limits of just what this game is going to be,perhaps more like Grand a Theft Auto V, where you can jump to play multiple characters simultaneously. 

      The game does look amazing so far, and promises is Arkham fashion to include a multitude of villains that we have all grown to expect from the series. I asked if they would be finishing the storyline where Azrael  came in,mashing hell was coming to Gotham. I'm still not sure if the game will tie up what happened to Joker, but I'm sincerely excited to see us fighting Scarecrow, who is truly an underrated villain, being a highly intelligent, manical fiend, who could challenge Batman in this chess match over the fate of Gotham. Apparently Riddler and Catwoman have a side story that will be played out, and although not every secret has been leaked just yet, I do hope in the thoroughness of truly ending the series, that the Hush confrontation is also brought to a conclusion, which was introduced in Arkham City as well. If not, I could live with it, but then again, the story may grow too big to be fun to play. 

      The story, and unless I've missed a trailer, seems to be quite under wraps,  not much has been leaked, but from what has been leaked, this game seems so big, I can't imagine the amount of playtime it will take to actually complete 100%. Still, many fans wanted even more out of Arkham City, and I have to agree with them, the game was nearly flawless, and the Riddler trophies added so much value to an already over enthusiastic title, but I never once hated having to scan a poster or building, or figure out a harrowing puzzle to get one of those green question marks. Personally, I  love the Riddler, he's one of the most iconic Batman villains, and he is the most aggravating of them, because it requires brains to defeat him, and because of that, the game is much more difficult than repeatedly stomping on your controller to button mash.  The combat looks and feels like the last generation games, but if it has been spruced up, I'm creating it is only to improve on a system that really wasn't broken to begin with, however a slight polishing is always good for consistency. So a Riddler is define,h a welcome return to the Arkham universe. Plus I have a soft-spot for puzzles. 

        Despite the game looking absolutely beautiful, I'd say nearly flawless, I want to know why the damn Batmobile looks like it still handles like a tank! Even in the more recent gameplay release, it looks like one of those old tanks you had in a Playstation 2 game! But maybe, and I mean maybe, the added potential play value of controlling the Batwing will make up for it, especially if it's as open-world as it seems.  This game is aiming to be a pinnacle title for the current systems, and trying to be a classic, and appeal to a broader audience than Batman fans. Makes sense, and seeing as the Batman mythology has such a large fanbase to begin with, the game, unless something terrible happens prior to launch, will be the instant success it's expected to be. 

       Although I shouldn't play devil's advocate here, but something tells me that the added characters like Nightwing, Robin, and Catwoman may play out well for a story such as this, and the reluctant help Batman will have to take in order to restore order, I'm not sure if this will be forced onto the players, or worst: be unwanted DLC that aims to shorten the overall gameplay value, and y bring shame to Rocksteady. Though I had played the Catwoman DLC, and it really didn't take away much from the main experience,which I respected a lot. Same with Harley Quinn's revenge DLC, and that felt like an utter waste to me, personally. 

        Batman: Arkham Knight does look to impress, and I'm certain it will, and I especially hope that Rockstasy sticks to their guns, and ties up all the loose ends, without having to shell out another twenty dollars to get the full story in DLC. Still, I'm happy to say that this going to be one of the best summer games, and with a lot of major titles coming out, and a few being leaked at E3, which I promise to do at least one commentary blogpost about, it looks to be an exciting year to own a current generation console.  Either way, we know now that Batman: Arkham Knight will be out in a little more than a month, unless something goes array, and that will be worth the wait. 

    Now, moving on to E3,  and my personal predictions on what will be coming forward, going into this yewr's Electronic Entertainment Expo. Normally I'm coy when I say I'm good at making industry predictions, because well, I've been playing games since I was able to crawl. People are so fascinated that infants play on tablets before they can walk, I was literally playing with an old NES controller before I could crawl, let-alone talk. I'm being a bit sardonic, but it's not difficult to predict certain aspects of the industry, or at least make a very well-rounded educated guess without being right a good portion of the time. The Electronic Entertainment Expo has become the Shangri-La for those of us who care about what comes next, not what comes next week. We know technology explodes the second it's inception, and two weeks behind once it's released on the market. So we always desire to see just how far a system can be pushed, what hardware and software limits there really are, and seeing even those limits pushed beyond by developers who should be seen as the great architects of our time. 

    E3 has but weeks away from the amassing of all gamer gurus, and tech experts to be unleashed upon California, and it will be interning to watch the chaos unfold from live streams and first person perspectives of the actual attendees themselves from my tablet. I remember the first time I watched E3, they had announced the Nintendo Revolution and the Playstation 3, and I was left in this euphoric state that made me excited to be a gamer. The future looked amazing, and the PS3 looked ridiculously beautiful. Being a boy who was amazed by seeing an 8-bit Mario jumping on goombas, and saving the princess, I was shocked to see what the barriers being pushed by technology were back in 2004-05. Still, even the playstwtion 4 and Xbox One will eventually look archaic to gamers of the future, I think the love of E3 never left me, even as an adult. 

    I've always wanted to attend E3, it's why I've always pushed myself to be in the business, and being thwt my talents weren't ever going to be up to par of those who could make even IOS games, I knew I'd have to relinquish the thoughts of being a developer, and try to make my way in as a gaming journalist. My talents were alway writing, despite how flawed my work may seem on this particular blog. But it's the staple of this blog, ever since the first post.

    Most of what people expect to happen at E3 this year (starting June 5th I believe) is a whole host of new IPs, and a ton of game content to really get the jowls wet over getting the new systems. Despite what some may tell you, thre aren't a lot of well-received titles on the current game consoles since their releases, but this year has been a slight change in the less-than-monumental reception of titles. The newest piece of information that seemed to be not much of a shocker, but a welcome commencement is in the form of a PC press conference. Bethesda will have not only their own booth, but a private press conference to, what most assume, and what has been unofficially leaked, show off the first actual look at Fallout 4, and I too believe it will be actual gameplay, not just a teaser trailer, lie, the so-called teaser leaked earlier in the year. I'm also certain we will see plenty of the obvious: Mirror's Edge 2 gameplay, but I think EA is going to mainly focus on their sports juggernaut, which is quite frankly boring, even for sports fans, as they never show you anything legitimately new until you she'll out $60 for a rehash of last year's game. I'd like to see EA give us a bit of background on the actual story of Miirror's Edge 3, as I liked the subtle style of the first game,mid hate to see it be turned into some big, over-the-top story, which happens to so many avant-garde games' sequels. The gameplay from last year's E3 does look quality, so I would love to see if any improvement have been made for the potential Q4 release. 

      Next, I'd like to see some new IPs to replace a lot of the old ones going out. I still think a Green Arrow game is possible to replace the Bstman series, given the obvious fanfare to the television show, and the upcoming ing franchise movie. I know Green Lantern is going to be rebooted, and we are going to try our best to forget Ryan Reynolds even exists.  So I think WB is going to take the opportunity to make a Green Arrow game, and I know this is overreaching, but it makes sense to have a character thwt is similar to batman in many ways, but more fierce in tactics, and who can have a villain list of the same caliber as the Caped Crusader. This game may be teased, or it may even be given a free light,mbut I can see it happening if not this E3,  perhaps next. 

     Another thing I'd like to see, and I know it's not the popular position to have, but I'd like to see less of this focus on casual games, and even smaller titles that are DLC, and a focus on AAA titles. I'm sorry, but I didn't spend over four hundred dollars to play 2D platformers on my Playstation 4. I know graphics don't always matter, and I know games are for fun, and substance should be key, especially gameplay, which has been literally cut to nudging a controller forward, but I'd like to see less mobile games, and more focus on titles that fit the core gaming systems. Granted, I actually like some mobiles, and if they could evolve off the likes of MK X, and even grow to rival consoles, then I'd be for more coverage of them. I love that two people in a garage can now have their game shared on the biggest platforms, I find that idea a very amazing symbiosis between major companies, and little guys trying to grow, but really, I want fully-developed, deep-seeded games! 

     Next, I predict that Microsoft will tease the Oculus Rift's capabilities, as V.R. And A.R. are expected to be the future, even though it's been the futur since I was still in diapers. Still, this may be the opportunity to get some legitmate IPs, but something tells me that this (and Project Morpheus) may not be seen until CES, in the sense of testing via an audience.  Virtual reality seems fun, and many games will most likely have it as a choice, but it is a fad, and unless it fully immerses, while keeping the story from faltering because of the medium, I only see it being something to show off for five minutes, until you're back to that big television screen you blew last month's rent on for that lovely 4K. 

     So the games,what exactly do I want to see? I'm an older gamer, up there pushing that minor demographics in their late twenties-early thirties, but I do love to see new IP if it works out, and is written well.  I was excited about the rumors circling about a possible Medieval revamp, but finding out it was fan made kinda let my hopes down. One game I would love to see remade is Ecco the Dolphin, because I really miss puzzlers that have a strong story behind them. Sega isn't even going to be having booth at E3, so this is obviously a longer shot than seeing a new Dreamcast in 2017. I'd also like to see a sequel to Dishonored. I wasn't a huge fan of the original game, and I get it was supposed to be steampunk, but it really didn't read steampunk to me as much as it did cartoon. Still, it was a fun game, and it was at least attempting to be original. 

    For Sony, Naughty Dog has become a goldmine. This company has been there since day 1, is a strong component to the SCEA, and is part of some of the biggest franchises of my generation.  Uncharted is ending very soon, and with The Last of Us being another big-time game franchise that has room to grow, I see the possibility of a new IP more apt to happen at this year's E3, for release sometime in the next year, year-and-a-half. I will also predict that the obvious will happens and The Last of Us will either get a sequel, or a Vita port, although I think that happened already. 

    Twisted Metal: can it survive in a world of GTA? The last game was met with more controversy than any other in the series' twenty-year history. That's right, this year Twisted Metal turns twenty, and it is a whole new world since then, and that in-turn has many skeptics wondering if a new title will make the cut. I cannot assure that a new game is in the work, but I would love, love, love to see a reboot of the second game, or even a sequel to the Twisted Metal: Black series. Hell, I'd even laugh to see a DLC sequel in the wonderfully comedic Small Brawl style. This won't happen, Jaffe has in many ways, moved on to greener pastures with the God of War series. Still, putting hundreds of hours into mastering the car combat concept, I wouldn't mind given a new Twisted Metal game another chance. 

    Did I hear someone say: "Gameplay of Star Wars: Battlefront"? Yeah, I'm not sure that's a prediction, more as a shoe-in, but what about the Last Guardian? Or am I just pissing everyone off for saying that? I kid, because we've now moved on to bigger, and better things, right? 

    E3 will most likely show off a new Mass Effect title, although I'm not quite sure even I'd be interested in seeing that, but hey, sequels are always going to usher in more OMGs than some scary looking IP. Although I'd also like to see a sequel for Alien: Isolation, and I believe it would be a legitimately good game, and a contender against the grain of other titles, it may be very, very early for even some concept art at the expo.

     So we talked about Sony, we talked about Microsoft (hah! Just kidding, we don't care about Microsoft hee at the Malacast Editorial!) and we talked about EA, and the fact that Dead Space 4 is probably not going to happen....I'm still waiting on Posession myself, you know, that game when you're some zombie experiment, and you create other zombies? Yeah that game teased before even the Ps3 and XBOne were even released! But want about the Assassin's Creed machine? I mean Ubisoft? You know, if someone didn't post maybe once every three years some short clip of Ghost Recon, or a picture of Rayman, I'd swear Ubisoft only knew one thing: Assassin's Creed. Personally,mi hate these games, I find them overrated, and quite frankly, they are the Nickleback of gaming! Yes! I said what a billion online trolls never have the courage to say! With that being said, I really hated Watchdogs, and I find that political correctness is the only reason Ubisoft even have a damn press conference over other, and let's be real here, more deserving publishers out there. Even Square Enix is more deserving of a whole press conference, and they barely make one game series! Still, I must admit, the tenacity behind Ubisoft is proof of a good work ethic that many big-time publishers could learn from, and alas, why I must make these predictions for Ubisoft, even though it is more like stating the obvious.

      Okay, so Assassin's Creed by now has already been leaked, and is most likely taking place in Victorian England. I don't give two shits personally, but hey, the market proves I'm wrong,and you guys love playing this game. Why? It's the same as those who play Dragonball games, they just won't stop, and the same with Dynasty Warriors....you people are sick!  As I digress, I have to mention yet again,mthwt Assassin's Creed will most definitely be out in November, and every November after that until the end of time. Ubisoft claims to have other games, but nobody I know has ever played them, and I'm sure you haven't, unless you're some obsessed psychopath with francophillia, haven't played them either. 

      So Ubisoft. May do a sequel eventually to the likes of Watchdogs, but seeing as how poorly received it was, they might just stick to Ghost Recon, which is the French Call of Duty, and of course Rayman, which was always a stupid platformer that most people only played ironically as babies, and sparked the current hipster movement. Gag me, please. 

       Oh yeah! Rockstar games! The biggest video game company in the world, the one all of you wish to work for, but not even on the same level as these code monkeys. I know GTA VI (CE?) is years away, and yes Rockstar, I just gave you a lovely little bit of marketing genius right there for your Vice City reboot that we all know is coming. Still, it's never early to predict what Rockstar will be showing off at this year's convention.  Rockstar hasn't had a serious contender for it's GTA series yet, except Manhunt, and earlier, Midnight Club. Rockstar is a company that I am sure wants to expand it's audience well past the masses who line up to play the relatively moderate, but always revolutionary titles that make up the GTA series, but even I found them growing staler, and less sophisticated even as early as right after GTA III.

    Still, the series is white hot, and Rockstar is full of intelligent, talented people, so what else can they show off to cash in on you guys out there? I doubt a Manhunt 3 is even a thought in their kinds, as the second game was forced into such heavy censoring, it held little weight without the excessive ogre, and even games like Mortal Kombwt rivaled that gore, and surpassed it tenfold. Still, do we see another IP, or older franchise stepping up to join the Rockstar family? My hopeful side says absolutely, but my realist, predictive side says that Rockstar isn't going to waste valuable effort to make another game thwt will never reach the margins of GTA, so they will focus all their energy on the obvious Vice City reboot, because let's face it, unless they redo the sixties version of the original games in either London, or someplace else in Europe, which seems too extreme a risk for them to take, prepare yourself for driving around the Florida Keys, and portions of Miami and Kissimmee even by the year 2018. Okay, 2019 at the very latest. 

     My final predictions are as such: E3 2015 will be game-packed, and it will focus on a ton of IP release that will be practically available for download just hours after the show closes up, and the demos go out to fill the limited space on your already cluttered hard-drives, and then  you'll be wondering how you ever lived without high-speed internet. To me, that is incredible how you will go from just one click to download something just previewed live on a computer/television/tablet/phone screen, to right onto your new system. 

    As I just said, there will be a ton of games, and many new peripherals to replace the ones you already have, and "make them updated" but I'm also certain that the new games previewed will not be nearly as surprising as in past years. Personally, the internet, and the 24 hour news cycle has made it nearly impossible for the industry to keep a good secret. Every louse in the tabloid game journalism industry is  always doing their best to ske sure they have the story before anyone else, and it really does screw up those of us who get ally miss hearing in a simultaneous moment when something is officially announced. 

     Finally, I believe in the deepest chambers my heart of hearts that we will hear about some new Tom Clancy title, maybe even a Splinter Cell remake for the newer consoles. Why? Because the new Rainbow Six looks stupid, and if you really think it's spectacular, then gaming must die, yesterday. I play, but I do believe it's coming. 

  Well I hope you've enjoyed my predictions, because it's pretty obvious to see the innovation these people in the industry have, and it's not a stretch outside the imagination. Still this was, for all-intent-and-purposes for fun, and not meant to be an actual portrayal of the upcoming E3 convention,more the conferences involved. 

Thank you for reading the Malacast Editorial! 

Twitter: @mcasteditorial

E-mail: mcasteditorial@yahoo.com, or my newest account: malacastplays@gmail.com. 

I'll be releasing some upcoming news about the podcast I co-host with Edgar Holves @FunNYFisherman called  EntroPhenom, later this summer. Have a great time, and enjoy E3 this June! 

Summer Wars, Brand-New Silent Hill, and Having to Eat a Bit of Crow

  I just watched one if my favorite animes after a long day of reading. I've read about two hundred pages in the book Nefertiti today, and now have less than fifty pages until it's done. I must say, it turned out a better page turner than I've expected, but I could see the core audience of the book was female readers, but I still admire how well it's going so-far. The anime is called Summer Wars, which is pretty decent, and a storyline that is universal: the importance of family, but done in a rich Japanese style. 

One of the things I took away from this 2009 anime is a game called "koi-koi" that seemed not as intriguing as I would have first expected it to be. Later on, I looked into the card game, discovering it's significance, and that the hanafudas (translation literally: "flower cards") I became much more interested. Nintendo first developed these cards around the 1890s, and their inspiration goes back to the 17th century, when western style playing cards were first introduced into the eastern culture. These cards really symbolize the first culturally diffused success story of game and gamble between two very different cultures. 

    I became obsessed, as I normally do when I'm interested in something, and I began to play the game on an application I've downloaded. I played nearly two hundred rounds within the first few days, and with little understanding of the rules, the cards, and their meaning, I began to learn as I played, and researched. 

    

     The game became more and more of a challenge, and i saw a reason to get excited over this game, and others like it. Koi-Koi, or keep going, is like a reverse Go-Fish style game, where you create yakus or matches, and instead of stopping, you continue to create as many matches as possible to obtain the most points. This game is usually linked with Japanese yakuza, which I've found out later on after playing, but still it is played in many parts of the world: Japan, Korea, even Hawaii has it's own unique style of hanafuda play. 

  

       Personally, I just happened to find it interesting after watching Summer Wars, but once I've discovered Nintendo had a major part in these cards, and that they still make them today, even making a special version with officially licensed Mario hanafuda cards, I figured a gamer such as myself would definitely give the game a try. Not one to leave any stone unturned, especially in a learning experience, I began to play people online, and it's been a challenge, on that makes me reminiscent of my first game of chess. This game is like chess, but instead of patiently timed moves that require days of thought, it's fast-paced, and sure both luck and skill to win. 

 

   Koi-Koi has become something of an obsession, but now I want to go on and become very good at it, maybe even master it, then I'll probably move on to the next thing, like Hachi-Hachi (translation: literally: eighty-eight) or Senet, because I've always wanted to learn it, because it is consider the earliest board game on the planet. Still, I have to say, and as corny as it sounds, Summer Wars has given me my first taste of hanafuda, and for that, I'm forever  grateful. 

      Now, moving on to the meat of this lovely sandwich blogpost, for those who are uninformed, the new Silent Hill teaser trailer was released some time in late August. It was probably later than that, because I've recently just seen it, and it feels like it was released, so, October at the latest. Either way, I was watching someone play the teaser trailer, and I was intrigued by the absolutely terrifying gameplay I was watching. Rarely does a game go through such ambient terror, normally it's all blood and guts, being chased by a madman wielding some implement of pain and bloodshed. However, just days after stating I was officially sick of Silent Hill being ruined by those who simply can't make a Silent Hill game, I was then given a nice big slice of humble pie, because the game does look great, even if what I'm seeing is not in any way a part of what will be the game. 

    Silent Hill is the game I love more than any I've ever played in my life, because  it combines so many great elements, and drama. It wasn't a typical survival horror, which can be traced back even further than that horribly classic title: Zombies Ate My Neighbors, which I think is due for a revamp with Cliffy B. at the hem, and a bunch of really bad 90's lines, and big-ass explosions! Yeah, or not, and we see a contemporary Silent Hill that pays homage to what the series used to be. 

  

    Right now, I think the experience of Silent Hill is summed up by most fans to be the best before Konami let Americans clutter it up with shitty voice-overs, and asinine western decision-making that took away all the intelligence and creepiness, and made a slasher film that was as hokey as Resident Evil 6. Silent Hill 2 and 3 respectively were the best in the series, most fans will agree, and some will simply state that the best was the original. I am a fan of all the game, except Homecoming, and Downpour. Yes, I'll admit that even Silent Hill Origins was okay, but the one I love the most is still Silent Hill 2. 

    

        I wrote a blogpost called Silent Hill 2: The Game That Changed My Life a few months back (I believe it was in August) and I was being completely honest. The style of horror I was affiliated with before SH2 were gory slasher flicks that come to define Western culture. However, when I played Silent Hill 2, it was as if a whole new world of horror was opened up to me,the same way it was when I played Resident Evil for the first time. 

   

     Yet, other games followed in the wake of Silent Hill 2, and although it only held a score of about 7.2 rating as a game overall, it became a defining title on the PS2 and Xbox. Games like Clock Tower, Fatal Frame: Crimson Butterfly, and Siren did try to jump on the Eastern-style survival horror title, and were met with menial success, although I believe Siren was under appreciated I'm the states, it didn't have the steamrolling power of  the Silent Hill series. 

 

     I was a fan of Silent Hill: The Room, because the story was pure psychological fear, and the story was easy to get behind. I admired the game, even though the huge steps were taken to get away from the original stories as much as possible, people forget that Silent Hill is about being a Psycho-fiction construct, where the mind is truly the most frightening place, and what is the supernatural,,versus what is the psychological come to mend into a truly horrifying, and truly personal experience. The main characters are all strong-willed,misuse they have to maintain this dilemma that is so intertwined within their own minds, that this game could not host a character like a Jill Valentine of Resident Evil fame, or an Isaac Clarke of Dead Space. 

  

   The Room was good, it brought a fresh new story, and didn't deal so-much with Silent Hill itself, but it showed a great detail of the town's history. I personally enjoyed it, and many fans will disagree with me,which is fine,mbut if you play it for what it truly is, and the utter creep factor it renders to the player, even you will see that the new title,min the teaser pays slight homages to the fourth installment in the series. 

 

    So let's get to this teaser, and what you will expect: 

    Firstly, Silent Hill is where those who have severe problems that they cannot emotionally handle, or dark secrets that must be laid to rest go for purgation,,it is a symbolic confession booth for the damned in many ways, and this game looks to be no different.  Silent Hill is a state of being for main character, it is trial by fire, and it's residents are always seeking a form of salvation. Each game has very Catholic undertones, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the game has always been quite religious, and sets up the idea that one can in-fact go back home,,but the road there is Hell. 

 

    The playable trailer, which I've seen played, and have not been able to play personally looks to play off of many of the concepts derived in Silent Hill: The Room,,and Silent Hill 2, with a very original, and updated fear factor to the respected directors of the game. There is no secrets these days, and the two men who will be brining this game to us some time in the next year or so, are Hideo Kojima, who is probably a larger fan of the series than even I could be, and director Guilmero Del Toro, creator of one of my favorite shows on television: The Strain. 

   Kojima and Del Toro  are a dream team for Silent Hill, which has been treated like a mad dog for nearly ten years now, and both will give the game a respect that American publishers, and Ukrainian developers have failed to do in the past. Kojima wanted to fix Silent Hill, and I stated early on that if he didn't, then Silent Hill should be shot down, and left to become archived into the classics, along with the rest of the great games of time. However, he now has the reins, and with Del Toro, I believe that they can do for Silent Hill what even Konami couldn't in the PS 2 era: make the game a serious contender for the mainstream. I believe with these two behind the franchise, they could get a much broader audience to respect this game.  Akira Yokoyama has been a composer for the series for nearly every game, and I would be shocked it he wasn't on board for this revision title. His compositions were as memorable as the game itself, so much importance was emphasized on the music, that I've personally downloaded every soundtrack to every game. 

     

    I do hope some of the elements remain the same, while others we updated. For example, I love how the untuned radio goes all white noise when a "monster" is in the vicinity, and many hated that feature, while some say it's a small staple in the course that is Silent Hill. Personally, I think other elements from the trailer,which the guy playing obviously didn't get, and that's fine, he was unaware it was a Silent Hill trailer, but I saw many of the references, most people would overlook. Many of which even fans would miss. 

   

     The most obvious example was the finding of the flashlight, this has my hopes up that this is a revision, and not a reimagined game from scratch, like Homecoming was. Don't get me wrong,changes are always good,,and changes are usually for the best, especially in sequels, so long as it's not a major overhaul. With the flashlight, you see a serious degree of Silent Hill imagery throughout the trailer. The game plays the same sequences over and over, always changing in the most subtle ways, this is like a Stockholm syndrome for the player. Because they fear no change, then abrupt change, and then slightly subtle changes from then on out. The developers for the game see really looking into the psychology behind fear,,and from what I've gathered, they've read the books, thrice. It's very Pavlov in many ways, and the slight creepiness overtakes the big scares, which look like they need a bit of tuning, yet  still gags. The radio gag was great as well. 

    Now the commentator was proving my point of conditioning, as he did not want to continue, and knew by going through the cellar door, it would be another cycle, but he presses on, takes his lumps, and ushers in through the door again, for another round of Hell. There is nothing more terrifying to the human psyche than slight changes, because the brain picks up on these things, and knows something isn't right, and this is a key-root of conditioning. 

    Just by watching the trailer, I know the game is in great hands, and it plays so well on the irritable reactions we get from gross things, but not necessarily gory things. When you see it gags seem to be in place as well. Like what's behind the curtain, or what's peeking in at me through the window. The game itself should have this playable trailer bundled with it I feel, because it is a genuine game all in itself, and I think that it puts to rest all my worries of what Silent Hill will become, and makes me excited for what Silent Hill can be. 

       

     Of course, there is a downside, which I am going to discuss on the Psycho-Mac podcast, which is having actors in games, and the likeness to those actors in the design of the characters. (Not to spoil it for you, but apparently Norman Reedus,,of the Walking Dead, and Boondocks Saints fame will be a part of the game, presumably the main character, but I'm wondering if this game will go the Heavy Rain route and allow for multiple characters to be played. I also will be pissed if they make this game multiplayer online.) as a side note, I think that Norman Reedus is a talented actor, however, I feel he's just a hot commodity right now,,and yes, I understand business, but how the game looks, I don't think you need a relatively known actor to help sell it! Sure, Walking Dead fans  may latch on for him, but quite frankly, I don't think they are the same kind of fans that would enjoy this sort of horror. 

     I'm lucky: I enjoy the gory horror, along with the psychological horror of such fearful flicks like Ju-on, but to me, I begin to get a tad suspicious when Norman Reedus is added to Silent Hill, and think that this game could go in a whole other direction of failure, and that would crush me as a fan. However, I'm putting my money, literally, as a consumer on Hideo Kojima, in-hopes he makes this franchise into a shining star once again. 

        Finally, to add a nice, comforting second slice of bread to this ridiculously long post, I'd just want to wish you all good tidings, but to remind you that if you haven't read my State of Games post, it is up right now on this blog. Quite a few of you have read it so far, and I'm glad for that, because I was not sure if you would find it interesting enough, considering the sad State of console games this year. 

   I would also like to add that I'll be busy writing my little fingers to the bone coming January, so there may be a lack of Monday Blogs posts up, but know that I am always writing, because I cannot hinder my fingers, even if I tried, and I'm grateful for every audience I get, and know I appreciate every one of you, and your tireless commitment to the Malacast Editorial. 

      Okay, so the last thing I wanted to actually discuss before finishing up this post was I've written my last post with a bit of urgency, and although the grammar wasn't wretched, typos and a misspelling or two had snuck past, as I posted without haste, and thinking back on those poor choices, a quick scan would've merited a much more respectful design. So for that my dear readers, I'm truly sorry. Still, I appreciate your support for the Malacast Editorial. 

Twitter: twitter.com/mcasteditorial or @mcasteditorial 

Thank you again for reading the Malacast Editorial, and have a wonderful holiday.