Game Changer – What To Expect From E3 2012
My name is Jared Whittaker, one of the hosts and Audio Chewbacca of the Super-Fly Podcast and PCW! Welcome to Game Changer, a weekly burning missive about all aspects of video gaming with a little bit of opinion thrown in for fun. Proceed with caution and tread lightly, gentle gamers. It’s going to be good time. Like the first time you saw Super Mario 3 good time.
Welcome back! It’s been a while, I know. But Game Changer is back to talk about the Electronic Entertainment Expo, otherwise known as E3. It’s the Christmas of gaming world. Hearing from all the major game publishers about the games and products that we’ll be trying to buy at midnight on release day. There’s always some surprises at E3 in store for gaming fans. So, we’ll be looking at some of the possible announcements that could be coming from the big show this year.
More Information About Grand Theft Auto 5
Rockstar Games dropped the trailer for Grand Theft Auto 5 out of no where back in November and the gaming world has been reeling since then. The return to San Andreas, the GTA4-level detail in the trailer, the possibility of a possibly older Tommy Vercetti trying to escape the madness of Vice City. The game is going to be massive! But one thing that’s on everyone’s mind is when is the game coming out. No dates have been reveled for the game, but many people feel like the game could be released this year. With a number of games relocating to next year for no reason and having heard nothing about the game in a while, it’s looking like we could be seeing at least another trailer for the game. Let’s hope. Hope with all our might.
Nintendo Goes Crazy With The Wii U
Look familiar? It's because it's the new Wii U controller. Don't worry. The iPad-looking controller is still around as well.
Last year, Nintendo introduced us to their new home console, the Wii U. It came off as a shock to most of the gaming community when it was shown. The HD graphics, the violent content of the games shown, the new tablet-looking controller with a 3 inch screen in it. The press conference was awkward and weird. Nintendo didn’t follow up with anything about the new system for a while. This year, now that we know a little more about it, we should expect to see most of their press conference to be about the new system. We should hear how much it’ll cost, the launch games and the system’s new community features. This is a LONG way away from the Wii. Next stop, 2005….
Sony Updates Playstation Plus
Playstaion Plus, Sony’s premium online service, turned out to be a big success. Free games and themes every month, access to betas and discounts on DLC and games to all members makes it a pretty sweet deal. But a survey that surfaced a few months ago to Playstation Plus subscribers, asking what they would like to see added to the service revealed that an added subscription to Call of Duty Elite as well as full PS2 and PS3 games and other perks. Sony usually tips their hand with these surveys. They sent one out before Playstation Plus was announced as well as the PS2 HD remake collections. So this seems more or less a sure thing. So, try to look surprised at the press con.
More Game Footage Than Ever!!
Last year had the most in-game footage of any E3 in recent memory. It was a welcome change to see actual gameplay rather than pre-rendered videos. This year? There’s SO many more games coming to show off that I can’t even begin to list them here. All you have to know is that this week is going to be chocked full of awesome looking games. Get ready now.
And that’s just the stuff we know right now. Stay tuned to Panels on Pages this week for coverage of the big show and all the major press conferences. Keep gaming.
Jared Whittaker plays a lot of games. Not as much as he’d like, but as much as time and money will allow. If you want to play some games with Jared, you can find him on Playstation 3; PSN tag: JFX. He is also on Steam and Battle.net as JFX316 and while he doesn’t have an Xbox 360, he has the coolest Gamertag in the world: Obiwan Jaborni. Feel free to add him as a friend or email him at JWhittaker@PanelsonPages.com. and on Twitter as JFX316
Filed Under: Columns • Game Changer
