E3 Edition: Video Game Quick Hits 6/11/13

By Tyler Jennings on June 11, 2013 in News Video Games

We’re kicking off one of the biggest weeks in gaming news and I’m already overwhelmed. To make this easier to write and read here’s list of links to our other articles for trailers and the like (thanks to Zombietron and Androidika for excellent coverage):

Telltale Games has released four character trailers for what appears to be The Walking Dead: 400 Days. The trailers for Vince, Bonnie, Russell, and Shel all have an art style that brings to mind the popular zombie franchise, and they all seemingly have connections to Georgia, where the comic, AMC television show, and Telltale’s first season take place. Telltale stated previously that the next time we see TWD content from them they would actually be bridging their first and second seasons, not actually releasing the new season yet. So are these trailers for the bridge? Or are they the bridge itself and they’re teasing season two? Is this even related to 400 Days? We know the game’s happening, and coming to Vita, but we don’t yet know if these trailers are for it.

We’ve all been anticipating official confirmation of what to expect from Deus Ex: The Fall and it’s finally arrived. To resounding disappointment. It’s actually a mobile game, not the next blockbuster we all anticipated. Damn.

MMOs in the PC world have never really had to deal with the question of what happens when you replace your hardware. It’s also not something most people thought about when they started playing DC Universe Online on PS3. But now the PS4 will be launching this year and players who intend to upgrade their hardware may be asking that exact question. Sony has the answer, both DC Universe Online and Planetside 2 (which is currently PC only) will be coming to PS4 later this year. That makes at least two launch window free-to-play MMOs. Might not be a bad way to fill those inevitable dry months shortly after the console launches.

Respawn Entertainment, the studio formed out of a nasty split with Activision and the creators of Call of Duty, has announced their debut. Titanfall will be coming to XBox One and PC, with another developer porting it to XBox 360. It’s heavy on the multiplayer, even going so far as to be called multiplayer (though I don’t actually know what that means yet). What little we know so far, all unconfirmed, is that it’s an FPS, coming in Spring 2014, mech (Titans) and human (Pilots) combat, uses the updated Source Engine, SmartGlass integration, and some form of Kinect support. Stay tuned for more information as we find it.

Three major additions are coming to PlayStation Plus‘s Instant Game Collection today, with something for almost everyone. First, Uncharted 3 will fill your action-adventure craving. It’s not quite as good as the second game, and it’s definitely not up there with the Tomb Raider reboot, but it’s still damned entertaining. If you’re looking more along the lines of a hardcore strategy title you’ll be pleased with XCOM: Enemy Unknown. I came to this one fairly recently, having planned to ignore it but getting sucked in by all the positive reviews. Those reviews were correct. I loved it and it’s a definite must play if you haven’t experienced it yet. Finally, there’s LittleBigPlanet Karting. I haven’t actually played this one yet, though I’ve loved every version of the franchise’s platformers and the excellent ModNation Racers that preceded it. This has been sitting idly in my gameQ since launch, it just keeps getting bumped back by so many other AAA releases. IGC will be the perfect opportunity for me, especially since it will always be on my hard drive whenever I get the hankering for a quick race.

Want a few quick highlights from Microsoft’s press conference, especially about XBox One coming from E3?

  • World of Tanks will be coming to XBOne
  • Gold Accounts will be getting two free games per month, a la PS+. First two games are Assassins’ Creed II and Halo 3
  • A new, smaller 360 is available now
  • Ryse: Son of Rome is an XBOne exclusive
  • A Killer Instinct reboot is coming to XBOne
  • Minecraft will have an XBOne edition
  • “Upload Studio” is a gameplay sharing tool for Smartglass
  • Dead Rising 3 is XBOne exclusive
  • No more MS Points on XBOne, uses real money like an adult
  • Battlefield 4‘s “Second Assault” DLC will be an XBOne timed exclusive
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has exclusive features on XBOne
  • Below, a roguelike from Capybara Games is coming to XBOne
  • 343 has a new Halo title coming to XBOne
  • Kinect Sports Rivals was also announced for XBOne
  • XBOne is coming in November for $499
  • GameStop for sure, and likely other retailers, have XBOne available for preorder now
  • Preordering nets you a special achievement (Really?)
  • You just read the fake word “XBOne” far more times than is healthy for a normal human (and my brain is now defective from typing it)

Before I start the Sony version, can Jack Tretton and Andrew House please start wearing a damn tie? You know those are $6,000 suits with french cuffs, but they can’t wear a tie? Trying to be hip is no excuse for being half-dressed at your press conference. If you want to look relaxed, wear a nice polo or even a button-down with khakis. Now then:

  • 85 titles are planned for PS Vita through 2013, including Final Fantasy X and X-2 HD
  • The Walking Dead: 400 Days will be coming to Vita; also a TWD Vita Bundle coming this year
  • All PS4 titles will be playable on Vita (did I imagine the word “eventually”?)
  • PS3 is still huge this year, with nearly 300 titles coming; also a GTA V bundle coming ($299)
  • Arkham Origins will have exclusive content on PS3 – Knightfall and Batman ’66 costume
  • Physical PS4 revealed (click for more pictures)
  • Video and Music Unlimited on PS4 day one
  • Redbox Instant coming to PS3, PS4, Vita “soon”
  • Live Events Pay-Per-Views also coming to Sony devices
  • The Order 1866 revealed as exclusive to PS4. Looks like Arthurian Gunpunk (if steampunk can be a thing, so can gunpunk)
  • Killzone, Drive Club, and Knack are launch games. inFamous Second Son is Q1 2014.
  • Quantic Dream’s The Dark Sorceror was revealed, maybe. It wasn’t very good, Iron Man 3 did the same gag better and the sorceror looked like Dee Snyder.
  • Transistor from Supergiant Games coming in early 2014
  • Exclusive “debuts” from indie games on PS4 include: Don’t Start (Klei), Mercenary Kings (Tribute), Octodad (Young Horses), Secret Ponchos (Switchblade Monkeys), Rays (Ragtag), Outlast (Red Barrels), Oddworld remake New ‘n’ Tasty (Oddworld Inhabitants), and Galaxy (17Bit)
  • Diablo III has Sony-exclusive content (Drake’s Amulet, etc.)
  • Square Enix teased more Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts III but didn’t actually say anything
  • Aveline (ACIII: Liberation) is playable on PS4’s Assassins’ Creed IV: Black Flag
  • Watch Dogs: One hour of content and an outfit exclusive to PS4
  • The Elder Scrolls Online‘s first beta is Sony-exclusive
  • Exclusive PS4 content for Mad Max
  • 140 games are in development for PS4, 40 with exclusive “experiences”
  • PS4 supports used games!
  • No online required for single player gaming, ever!
  • Day One PS4/PSN features: play while downloading, cross-game chat, more
  • Unified PlayStation Plus will be on PS4 Day One for the same single price: Drive Club PS+ Edition (sounds like a limited version) is day one Instant Game Collection with a new title every month (Don’t Starve, Outlast, and Secret Ponchos confirmed)
  • Gaikai will be available for PS3, PS4, and Vita in 2014
  • PlayStation 4 coming to US and Europe “this holiday” at $399 (limited preorders available now)

Sony was a bit harsh on Microsoft in the way they pointed out their support of used games and no requirement for online connectivity. They’ve even made a brilliant, if kind of mean-spirited, marketing video. Undercutting Microsoft’s price by 20%, meaning $100, was big win as well. However, it appears online multiplayer may only be available to PS+ subscribers on PS4, a la XBox Live Gold membership. All of their online services (Netflix, Gaikai, Live Events, etc.) will require a connection (obviously) but not PS+. Both companies spent a little too much focus on a non-gaming related services in my opinion, but we expected that and they’ve both made it known that those services will be part of their plans.

Nintendo’s going on shortly, but I’m publishing too soon for that. Stay tuned on BSR!, we’ve got plenty more coverage with ‘bots on the ground in LA and hitting up the news full time from home.