The last edition for the month of May. This one was quick and eventful. What do we have to look forward to in June? E3 for starters, which means you’ll want to keep a Big Shiny Robot! tab open at all times as we’ve got several people headed to L.A. for coverage of one of the biggest gaming events of the year. I’ll do my best to keep everything recapped in VGQH, but you’ll want to make sure you’re getting all of the major stories as they publish. But that’s next week, there’s still plenty to cover today after the long weekend.
One thing I had been anticipating for June, Inversion, has now been delayed into July. No firm date has been issued, nor a specific reason. Let’s go ahead and assume it’s the typical “final polish” excuse – which will somehow still result in a day one patch. what we’ve seen of the game doesn’t have the most spectacular visual presentation, but the gravity-flipping game concept looks solid. Saber Interactive and Namco Bandai have a lot of potential on this one and I still plan to play it, even if it is a month late.
It hasn’t been officially announced for a western release, but details on the Zone of the Enders HD Collection in Japan look awesome. The collection is coming on October 25th in three different versions. All three collect both the original game and the sequel, Anubis (called ZOE2: The 2nd Runner in the US). It’s all been bumped up to 720P and is running at 30-60 fps. The standard edition runs the typical 3,980yen. The Premium Edition comes with a special box, ZOE reBOOT Edition remix CD, a couple of booklets, the Chronicle Book, and a reBOOT book containing conversations with Hideo Kojima and Yoji Shinkawa. That one is set for 8,980yen. The Konami Special Edition has even more collectibles and costs an extra 1,000yen. Again, this is Japan only for now, but it creates hope for similar packages to make their way west, hopefully soon.
Another fine HD collection has been confirmed for US release. Resident Evil: Chronicles HD combines two former Wii-exclusives, The Umbrella Chronicles and The Darkside Chronicles, into one PS Move package for a measly $27. The collection hits on June 26th. If you’d prefer only one of the two games, you’ll be able to snag them individually for $15 starting July 17th.
Thanks to a tip from a UK retailer, we know a little about the Battlefield Premium service that’s expected to be revealed at E3. This is basically EA’s response to Call of Duty: Elite. The service is expected to run $60 and will include at least four, possibly five DLC expansions. The four to be included are Back to Karkand (already available – and likely already purchased by anyone considering the service), Close Quarters (June), Armored Kill (September), and End Game (December).The possible fifth pack is called Aftermath in late 2012. There is a small conflict with some of this information, as End Game is alternatively scheduled for Spring 2013. Maybe it’s being pushed back by Aftermath’s release in its slot? Other benefits could include new weapons, vehicles, assignments, and dog tags. Remember, we’re talking rumor for now, so be sure to watch EA’s press conference next week for the solid details.
Microsoft is still adamant that we won’t be seeing the new XBox next week at E3. But, their job posting ads may be spoiling some of the new features. A recent ad states they’re “focused on enabling amazing new in-game and in-console voice and video experiences for the next generation of Xbox.” This could just mean they need someone to work on the next version of Kinect, but Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Skype indicates a strong possibility of incorporating that service directly into their next console. Is this something that excites you? Is it just another fringe benefit that makes your console a little more awesome? Or is it a complete waste of resources and they should focus on making a gaming console, instead of a full media entertainment hub?
If you still haven’t found your way to Demon’s Souls, you may have been planning on skipping it altogether, considering the online servers were scheduled to shut down on May 31st. Note the use of past tense in that last sentence. Atlus has just announced that the servers will remain “for the forseeable future.” This is a fickle industry, so I don’t know how far they can foresee, but this is good news for a game that’s now bargain-priced at $19.99.
One thing we can expect NOT to see at E3 is a preview of Mass Effect 3‘s extended cut. Bioware’s Chris Priestly assures us it is still on the way, but they aren’t showing any of it. What is coming, however, is a fairly sizeable patch (1.03) to fix myriad minor bugs in the game. I say minor because I’ve read the list and they’re all minor. Internet brats will be very quick to correct me and explain that all of these are completely game-breaking and Bioware’s the worst company in the world for letting a broken game into the wild in the first place. The official date hasn’t been announced for the patch, but it’s probably safe to assume it will come alongside the free Rebellion multiplayer pack available today. Meaning my PS+ subscription probably installed it last night but I haven’t turned on my machine today.
Retailer-specific preorder bonus incentives have now been taken to a new high. Or a new low, depending on perspective. What game could possibly be worth at least seven different bonuses? Halo 4, duh! So, what are your options?
- Play.com: Deadeye Helmet
- GameStop: Forest Spartan IV Armor Skin
- Best Buy: Venator Raptor Spartan IV Armor Skin
- EB Games: Forest Spartan IV Armor, Arctic Battle Rifle Skin
- Microsoft Store: Pulse Armor Skin
- Amazon: Pulse Armor Skin
- Mighty Ape: Raptor Spartan IV Armor Skin, Locus Helmet, Assassin Multiplayer Emblem, plus the non-exclusive Pulse Armor Skin and Bonebreaker Emblem
Keep in mind, some of those retailers may not be available in your country or area, but you’re definitely going to have to work the balancing act of convenient ordering with best exclusive. The game isn’t out until November, so I’d expect even more incentives to appear before its release.
Today’s Playstation Store update is set to include a plethora of ultimate editions at significant discounts. These editions will include the game and any applicable DLC. These are all high-powered titles and if you’ve missed any of them they’re all games you should probably jump on now. First price listed is the normal discount, second is what you’ll pay if you have PS+:
- Red Dead Redemption w/ three DLC packs – including Undead Nightmare $27.99/$19.59
- inFamous 2 $33.99/$23.79
- Bioshock 2 w/ five DLC packs $27.99/$19.59
- MotorStorm Apocalypse $50.49/$35.34
- CoD: Black Ops w/ four DLC maps $66.49/$46.54
- L.A. Noire: Complete Edition $27.99/$19.59
- Mafia II w/ seven DLC packs $20.99/$14.69
- Just Cause 2 Ultimate Edition$20.99/$14.69
- Mortal Kombat w/ Warrior Bundle and Klassic Skins 1 $$34.99/$24.99
I’m led to believe each title has some sort of expansion included, but I don’t have all of the details. If inFamous 2 includes Festival of Blood it’s an absolute no brainer. If it doesn’t, you should probably get it anyway. That was my personal GotY for 2011, and I’m still constantly using my sling pack that came with the special edition.
One more thing to look forward to at E3, maybe two, is the next game from Quantic Dream. The French developer behind Heavy Rain is reportedly working on two unannounced games for Sony platforms – with one of those games possibly being on an unannounced platform. Quantic Dream’s David Cage assured us that the seven minute Kara video shown at GDC earlier this year was not a game, but could it be a clue about what they’re showing at E3? Their next game is planned for reveal at Sony’s press conference on Monday.
With The Witcher 2 receiving high praise (but mediocre sales) earlier this year, the talk of porting the PC-exclusive first game began anew. The port had been in development for a long time, but problems led to what we thought was its ultimate demise. The Witcher: Rise of the White Witch has now risen from the ashes and is apparently coming soon to XBox 360 and PS3. More details should be coming from Prjekt Red’s press conference tomorrow.
Just as we’re preparing for Skyrim‘s “Dawnguard” DLC, Zenimax has filed a new patent for something called “Hearth Fire.” It’s entirely possible that this isn’t even connected to The Elder Scrolls, but incredibly unlikely. Those of you with way too much attention to detail know that “Hearth Fire” is a conjuration skill book in the game, one of the twelve 2920 books. So what is it? We have no idea, but it sounds suspiciously like the next chapter of DLC, or possibly a sidequest in “Dawnguard.”
That ends this week’s early edition. Check back for more on Friday. The late edition could be huge in anticipation of E3, or incredibly small with everything being kept close to the vest until next week. We’ll find out on Friday.