Tag: E3

Geekscape 294: Talking E3 With ‘Assassin’s Creed: Revelations’ Actor Cas Anvar!

by Jonathan

E3 is over and it’s time to pick our way through the fallout! Luckily, actor Cas Anvar, the voice of Altair in ‘Assassin’s Creed: Revelations’ is here to help out! Cas also lended his talents to Halo 4, Black Ops 2, Command and Conquer, Clone Wars and can be seen in Argo, Source Code and the upcoming Diana! Along for the ride is EJ De la Pena, writer and producer on their new project ‘CAS: Nobility’ which needs your Indiegogo love! Also, Tommy Avallone calls up to talk about his documentary ‘I Am Santa Claus’ with wrestling superstar Mick Foley and we break down the XBox One vs PS4 battle!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:26 — 25.5MB)

E3 2013: Nerdcore Rapper Mega Ran’s Top 3 Retro Video Games!

by Jonathan

While perusing the E3 show floor today (and what a show floor it was), we had the opportunity to meet up with the phenomenal nerdcore rapper Mega Ran. Mega Ran’s got a lot going on these days, but he still had time for a few questions from his pals at Geekscape. Watch our exclusive interview below, learn all about Mega Ran’s three favourite retro video games, and much, much more!

Mega Ran’s awesome Kickstarter launched just two days ago, and is already sitting at almost 20% of its $10’000 goal. Whether you’re a nerdcore fan, or simply love video games, there are some great incentives up for grabs, so why not throw him a few bucks?

Headed to SDCC this year? Geekscape, Tiny Nightmare Productions, and Devil’s Playground Burlesque have all banded together to put on an awesome two-night event. Night one features geek rock and comic vixens with Nerf Herder, Kirby Krackle, and H2Awesome, while night two will host DualCore, Wordburglar, Danimal Cannon, and of course, Mega Ran. We’ll see you there.

NerdaThon

E3 2013: ‘Pokemon X and Y’ Details Pour In!

by Josh Jackson

As one of Nintendo’s biggest releases this year, Pokemon X and Y were sure to receive a ton of coverage. However, I don’t think anyone’s body is ready for how much info actually came out. From new types, to new Pokemon and new ways to battle, I’ve made it my personal responsibility to round up all the news and put it in one place, just for all you Geekscape trainers out there. We have a lot to dig into, so here we go!

In addition to the new starters, (grass user Chespin, fire user Fennekin and water user Froakie,) and previously revealed characters who were making their official U.S. debut, (like the pissed off panda, Pancham, and Helioptile… which I have no clue how to describe,) all new reveals include Skrelp, a water and poison type that CAN’T be worse than Quilfish, Clauncer, another water type, Talonflame, (who’s typing you’ll never guess,) a Venomoth lookalike called Vivillon and Noivern, a giant bat.

Vivillon
Vivillon

The new Fairy type will finally even out the game’s typing at 18 unique elements. Fairy is strong against Dragon types, and in addition to the new Eevee evolution, Sylveon, old Pokemon like Marill, Jigglypuff and Gardevoir will be retroactively added to the type. If Clefairy and Clefable aren’t changed since they’ve been known as the “Fairy” Pokemon from the beginning, I might have an aneurism.

A new Fairy type attack called Moonblast was introduced by Sylveon. More reason Clefairy should be switched. It’s supposed to have come from the moon for Arceus’ sake! Fairy Wind was also used by Gardevoir, and did a ton of damage to Hydreigon, which means it was really weak, or Fairy is also strong against Dark.

Pokemon X/Y Starters!
Pokemon X/Y Starters!

Pokemon-Amie is a new feature that blends in Nintendogs type features with the Pokemon series. Giving trainers the ability to feed, pet and play with their teammates, this deepens the bond between monster and trainer, which will affect battles in unsaid ways. If it ends up being anything more than adding to the happiness stat, (which powers up certain attacks and fosters evolution in certain breeds,) I’ll be surprised. Using the 3DS cameras for interaction is also a brilliant move, since it adds way more personalization to the game.

For the first time, the games will let you choose between one of seven languages to match the worldwide release, which include English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese or Korean.

A new linking system called the PSS, (or Player Search System,) will allow players to search for other trainers both locally and online! This includes battling and trading. The goal of X and Y is to refine the core aspects of the series, which are collecting, battling and trading.

Two new battle types will be introduced. First are Horde Battles, which are 5 on 1 battles that take place in the wild. Simulating Pokemon moving in packs, this both adds an interesting dynamic to wild encounters and will make it much easier to level grind if they’re frequent enough.

The second battle type are Air Battles are special fights where only flying and “certain other” Pokemon can be used. The trailer shows Haunter being switched in, so does “certain other” mean Pokemon with the Levitate ability?

And finally… Pokemon X and Y will launch simultaneously worldwide on October 12! 

So there you have it. Game Freak really blew the lid off of this one, but there’s still so much more to come. How will Fairy types be integrated? Will Pokemon-Amie play a huge role? How many new Pokemon will be added? All these questions and more will be answered on October 12, but until then, we have two new trailers to hold us over. Check them out and make sure to comment if you’re excited!

E3 2013: The Newest ‘Smash Bros’ Combatant is… the ‘Wii Fit’ Trainer!?

by Josh Jackson

Yesterday’s Smash Bros reveal trailer had the internet exploding with excitement with the reveals of Mega Man and Villager. If you were online at all yesterday, it was impossible to escape the news. But what if I were to tell you that there was one more character that Nintendo neglected to introduce? A character from one of the highest selling franchises in the company’s history? One that is at the peak of human conditioning, which is needed to go toe to toe with Nintendo’s best?

Then what if I were to tell you it’s the Wii Fit Trainer?

Yes, the personal trainer who would sleepily walk players through weight training and yoga poses is heading to the fight, appropriately using exercise inspired moves to attack. From arm-leg extensions to push-ups… hoola hoops to downward dogs. My anticipation for the character went from “WTF” to “OMG” within the short, minute long reveal. I just wish her Final Smash used the Balance Board in some way, but at least he’s apparently in the background of a Wii Fit themed stage!

If nothing else, her reveal trailer is one of the most hilarious things I’ve ever seen. Watching Kirby, Link and Mario trying to do a tree pose had me rolling! Check her out below and let us know if you think she’s an appropriate addition to the anticipated cast!

Examining the ‘Super Smash Bros’ Trailer

by Josh Jackson

After years of anticipation, Super Smash Bros was finally revealed for 3DS and Wii U. Between the Animal Crossing villager and Mega Man joining the cast, if you are a Smash fan and weren’t jumping out of your seat at these reveals, then you have no soul!

BUT!… with all of the excitement floating around at these monster reveals, it was easy to miss some of the more subtle hints at the changes coming to the popular fighter. After hitting repeat more times than Selena Gomez, there are tons of smaller reveals hidden throughout the three minutes worth of video. Let’s take a look back and see what we can spot!

Once the 3DS version comes on screen, notice how all of the levels are based off of portable games, (Ocarina of Time 3D, Spirit Tracks, Mario 3D Land and Nintendogs for example,) whereas the Wii U version only had console stages. Does this mean each version will have separate stages, or was this just to signify that one was portable and one was a home console release?

 

Speaking of Spirit Tracks, Toon Link is seen in his conductor outfit at the front of the train. For some fighting games, characters in the background signify that they won’t be playable. Does that mean Toon Link is out? Or a console exclusive character if the train stage is indeed 3DS exclusive? Or will he just disappear from the background if he’s being used?

 

Pit from Kid Icarus made his Smash debut in Brawl, but since then, he’s received a new game with so a weapon loadout so huge it would make Borderlands jealous. Problem is, none of those weapons were represented aside from the bow. Thankfully, that’s changing, because at 1:17, Pit can clearly be seen using the Upperdash Arm, which obviously wasn’t in the last entry. As a huge fan of Uprising, this was one of my biggest requests, and I’m glad to see Pit getting an upgrade.

 

Pit’s power of flight also looks changed, with a diagonal jump instead of a continuous flying ability that starts straight up. If this is the case, it looks like our favorite angel might have tons of new tricks. The big question is: will this move set be from the ground up or will it integrate his old moves? And if he is brand new, what happens to his old move set? I’d hate to see it disappear, but I can’t realistically see another slot being taken up by say… Dark Pit just so the old moves can come back, though I wouldn’t  be opposed to it.

 

Samus seems to have a suit of armor closely resembling her Other M suit. Her Final Smash also seems to let her aim a small amount compared to the last game where it just went straightforward. Huh… I wonder if she’s going to have to ask for permission before she can use it?

 

Donkey Kong’s spinning punch that he’s had since the first game looked tilted. Has the classic move been tweaked?

 

Bowser was seen doing a few new normal attacks, including a low drop kick. Seems like he’s getting a move makeover as well, which is fine since he was exactly the same in the last two games.

 

Many of the fights are taking place in what appears to be a Skyward Sword stage. Combining this with the Spirit Tracks and Gerudo Valley stages, and that’s at least three new Zelda stages between the two versions. What can I say? The series is popular!

 

Another stage is what looks like a boxing ring. Is this simply the new Battlefield and Final Destination stage that abandons stage gimmicks for a flat battleground meant for straight up battles? Or is this hinting at the inclusion of another franchise down the line? Here’s hoping for Little Mac!

 

The Animal Crossing Villager’s move set makes him seem oblivious that he’s even fighting. He’s seen using his Balloon Fighter hat to fly, dropping bowling balls, cutting down trees, digging holes and even grabbing projectiles and putting them in his pocket. He’s already looking like one of the more interesting characters move wise. I can’t wait to try him out!

 

Mega Man’s reveal had a few peculiarities of its own. First, his multiple boss moves were featured, but will they all be special moves like we’re used to? Most likely, they’re integrated both into his normal and special attacks, but it’s still worth mentioning.

 

Mega’s reveal was ushered in with the phrase, “Mega Man joins the battle!” The previous games used the phrases, “joins the Melee” and “joins the Brawl.” Since I doubt the games will be simply titled Smash Bros Wii U and Smash Bros 3DS, what are the chances that the final title will be Smash Bros Battle? Since Villager had a different phrase, I’m almost positive this won’t be the case, but it would be a good way to sneak it in if this were to become the name.

 

When Mega Man dies, rather than the usual flash that accompanies a fall, his trademark explosion triggers instead. This matches his obvious NES style movement, including his idle pose, his jump and his appearance while taking damage.

 

Rush is seen using his Rush Coil ability. I’m guessing this is Mega Man’s Up-B attack that helps him spring back up, (much like Sonic.) Will Rush be integrated into any of his other moves?

 

Right at the end, the trailer teases Mega Man going up against the Yellow Devil boss. While this confirms at least one third party boss, does this mean the return of a single player mode like Subspace in Brawl? Is this simply an event challenge for the Blue Bomber? Or am I over-examining it and Yellow Devil is a stage hazard?

So after meticulously watching the video over and over again, this is the best that I’ve got. Are any of my observations off? Did you find any of your own that I missed? And how awesome is it that Pit has near limitless potential with an Uprising themed move set!? All these questions just make the wait going into 2014 that much harder! You know the drill. Watch the trailer and let us know below!

E3 2013: ‘Saints Row IV’ Gameplay Impressions

by Jonathan

After the closing of THQ earlier this year, and the firesale of THQ properties that followed, one of the THQ published franchises whose tenuous fate concerned fans the most was the Saints Row series. Generally acknowledged as a more lewd and drunken cousin to the GTA games (yeah… even MORE lewd and drunken), the Saints Row titles are generally praised for offering a “screw everything, let’s just @%$* everything up” alternative to Rockstar Games’ main franchise. This louder and more anarchic approach is a breath of fresh air for Saints Row fans, and the closing of THQ left many of them concerned with the fate of the long planned Saints Row IV (due out on August 20th here in the U.S.). Original developer Volition continued development of the title, but publication moved from THQ to Dead Island publisher Deep Silver, ensuring that fans will ultimately have their insane, anarchic fill. But forget the history… How does that game actually play?

Well, after spending a short time playing the game in Deep Silver’s E3 Oval Office set up, I’m happy to announce that the game is both fun and insane. Is it ultimately satisfying to the extent that we expect from a full console release? Sadly, I think the jury is still out.

The 'Saints Row IV' President's Seal
The ‘Saints Row IV’ President’s Seal

The demo that I played came in two parts, a narrative portion early in the game in which the White House (under your presidency) is attacked by aliens intent on enslaving the human race and a free play, completely unlocked God mode portion set up by the developers to show off the free roam gameplay and the character’s completely insane souped up powers towards the end of the game.

I can’t hold a grudge against any game that features both Keith David’s voice talents and Stan Bush music, and in my time with the title I experienced both. Your character from Saints Row 3 is now dirtbag President of the United States, with a cabinet made up of kiss-asses, traitors and former porn stars ,and your approval rating sits at 20%. As you make your way to a televised press conference, you manage to hilariously cure cancer (or solve world hunger… you can’t do both), kick the ass of a political rival and endorse (or not) a loser hanger-on. And as you approach the podium to address the nation, the walls are blown in and the alien overlords attack. You have to make your way to the Oval Office, retrieve your high-powered munitions and kick some alien ass as the bad guys abduct most of your cabinet up into their space ship.

Me, sitting in 'Saints Row IV's AMAZING Oval Office
Me, sitting in ‘Saints Row IV’s AMAZING Oval Office

It’s a pretty ridiculous and impressive sequence of events, ending in the President manning a giant surface-to-air cannon on the White House lawn against incoming spaceships, but I couldn’t help but think that the character animations were a bit choppy, and that the gameplay felt slow. I wanted to blast a lot more aliens and explore the White House a bit more and it felt as though the big set pieces and jokes came at the expense of a faster, looser experience. It is fun to blow aliens away with a high powered machine gun, but the scripted encounter events occurred so close to each other that it didn’t leave time for exploring. This really felt like a tutorial level (and am pretty sure that it is, with the game’s release about two months away). Probably not fair to think that it’s representative of the entire game, as even though the gameplay and animations weren’t satisfying, the humor and ridiculousness were EXACTLY what I’ve come to expect from a Saints Row title.

Luckily, the gameplay picked up a lot with the free roam portion of the demo. In this open world sequence, your character is completely powered up, with superpowers involving super-speed, limited flight, freezing, fire powers, and telekinesis. And he also has every weapon in the game and is allowed to unleash them all on both the pedestrians and alien scum inhabiting the massive area. This portion reminded me a lot less of GTA and a lot more of the first Crackdown game, a title I was addicted to years ago. Here, I found myself superjumping around the city, collecting rooftop orbs, and blowing stuff up. It’s actually a LOT like the first Crackdown and even features places on the map where you can activate mini missions and co-op play. But of course, there’s a major difference: the powers and weapons are insane… and Stan Bush is playing on one of the radio stations!

The Dubstep gun may be one of the most hilarious weapons ever.
The Dubstep gun may be one of the most hilarious weapons ever.

In my time blowing things up and pretty much destroying everything, I used freezing powers to freeze alien gunships out of the sky and send them crashing into buildings, fire abilities to light bad guys on fire during melee encounters, and telekinesis to pick up bystanders or vehicles (or corpses) and send them hurtling into pretty much anything and everything. And the guns were fantastic. One of the most creative is the Dubstep Gun, in which holding down the right trigger and aiming it at an enemy bludgeons them with dubstep music until they die. Pretty hilarious. My favorite (and most destructive) was the Singularity Cannon, a weapon that fires a mini-black hole at a target that immediately sucks up everything in the nearby vicinity. Cars, pedestrians, aliens, streetlamps, fences, trucks… I had a blast seeing the bad guys scrape and try and drag themselves free of the little black holes, only to ultimately get stretched and sucked inside. It was immediately one of my favorite weapons of any game ever, and it’s a blast just speed running or soaring around the environment shooting the weapon at everything in sight (including getting yourself accidentally sucked in on a few occasions). It was Crackdown… on crack. And I had a blast.

And just as I was warming up and really putting it to the alien scum, the demo was over and I was ushered out of the room by the Deep Silver folks (but not before I got a picture sitting at the Presidential desk!). Yes, the jury is still out on whether or not my time demoing the game is indicative of the full console release, but the personality on display in Saints Row IV and the rampant fun of the open world carnage were definitely enough for me to give the game another chance upon release. I can’t wait to power up, load up and cut an even bigger swath of destruction August 20th.

http://youtu.be/bQTt6bUZrSU

Mega Man Joins Smash Bros.!

by J.C. Marquez

What many believed to be impossible has finally happened.

After years of pleading from fans around the world, Mega Man is confirmed to be in the next Super Smash Bros. game, which will see a release on both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS consoles.

In the final moments of this morning’s Nintendo Direct, a trailer for the newest entry in the Super Smash Bros. series closed out with a blazing siren indicating that a new challenger was approaching. As Mario, Link, Donkey Kong, and Kirby fight it out, the camera pans up to reveal the silhouette of Capcom’s blue bomber looking down at the iconic Nintendo characters before he himself joins the fight.

If you missed the announcement or simply want to relive those glorious 99 seconds one more time, turn up the volume and play the video below!

E3 2013: ‘Mario Kart 8’ Gameplay Impressions

by Jonathan

If there’s a non-Zelda game that I’m looking forward to the most on the Wii U, it’s a Mario Kart title, which Nintendo announced this morning in the form of Mario Kart 8. Just like any classic Mario Kart title, Mario Kart 8 features a big lineup of Mario characters (each with their own personalized karts) and brand new race tracks (each with their own hidden passageways and secrets). What’s new this time around, beyond the beautiful HD graphics, is the inclusion of the motorcycles from the Wii version, the gliders and submarines from the 3DS version, and a brand new kart: the hovercraft. And the hovercraft comes immediately handy with the arrival of levels in which you’ll find yourself driving on the sides of the walls and even upside down on the ceiling.

In the 3 tracks that I played in my short time with the game, Mario Kart 8 seemed like more of the same. For gamers who had grown tired of the same mechanics by Mario Kart 7, there’s not a whole lot new here, other than new takes on traditional courses like the Ghost Manor, the seaside town from Mario Sunshine and Treetop Terrace. Yes, driving on the ceiling and walls can be very cool, but the rapid change in screen orientation and super loud HD graphics can give you a sense of sea sickness after awhile. The nice lady demoing the game for Nintendo said she was starting to feel sick after just watching the gameplay. There also didn’t appear to be any new power ups that I could use, not that I consider the classic Mario Kart in any way broken. I’m a big fan of every iteration of the game and will be picking this up day one.

WiiU_MarioKart8_imageP01_E3

The game can be played on the Wii U gamepad in two ways, either using the thumb stick for steering similar to the Gamecube controller, or with the built in motion controls similar to Mario Kart Wii. And you can switch controls in the middle of the game. The other use of the pad is pretty hilarious: there’s a horn button in the middle of the pad that you can use to honk your horn and cause the other drivers to turn their heads. I caused one fender bender ahead of me between two computer controlled characters in order to get back into first place.

All in all, there’s still a lot to be seen. The three courses on display weren’t final versions and were too short, with only two laps apiece and not a lot of variation in laps (the second time through the Ghost Mansion, portions of it were underwater). That being said, my time with the game on the crowded floor was also too short, and I look forward to playing the game this Winter when it is released. Hopefully, Nintendo keeps up their strong recent history with online gaming support, as this is going to be a lot of fun to play across the Miiverse. The dream of additional downloadable tracks (including classic tracks) is also one that I keep having and hopefully this is the version of Mario Kart that brings it to reality!

New Gameplay Trailer For Bungie’s ‘Destiny’

by Derek Kraneveldt

During Sony’s E3 press conference last night, Bungie took to the stage to finally show off gameplay from their anticipated next title, Destiny. The game is a sci-fi first-person shooter on a much larger scale than anything we’ve ever seen before, and is designed to evolve and expand over years of time.

Details are still few on the game itself, but if these trailers are any indication, Destiny is set to be a system seller. Watch the new gameplay videos below, and let us know what you think! Destiny drops sometime in 2014!

E3 2013: ‘Nintendo Direct’ Live Blog

by Josh Jackson

After yesterday’s insane reveals, announcements and a hell of a lot of momentum going Sony’s way, Nintendo is going to have to come out strong to impress gamers. Between a sluggish Wii U launch that has many a gamer dismissing the system as a true next gen experience, the Big N just HAS to have some surprises up their sleeves to wow the naysayers.

Follow our live blog below as Nintendo rolls out their line up for the year and beyond. Are you guys excited for Smash Bros? A new Mario? Or something unannounced? Let us know as this Nintendo Direct gets underway!

PS4 Physically Unveiled, Launching This Holiday Season For $399

by Derek Kraneveldt

Everyone hated the fact that Sony didn’t show off their physical PS4 console back at the system’s announcement in February. That’s all water under the bridge now, as Sony’s E3 press conference has left gamers cheering and dying to get their hands on the console.

Sony has revealed that the console will hit stores in North America and Europe this holiday season. The system will cost you a cool $399, 399 Euro, or 349 Pounds. That’s right, it’s $100 less than the Xbox One.

Physically, the console looks like a slanted black box. Really, I don’t know why people get so stuck up over how a console looks, but to each his own I suppose. It looks like the PS4 will have some fantastic support, which is why I’m really interested in getting one.

Take a look at the first images of the PS4 below, and let us know if you’ll be picking it up! For other PS4 news, read our (no longer live) live blog, and see what you missed!

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E3 2013 ‘Sony Press Conference’ Live Blog

by Derek Kraneveldt

It’s been a long day, with E3 conferences from Microsoft, EA, and Ubisoft concluding throughout the afternoon, and Apple’s own WWDC beginning this morning. The moment most gamers seem to be waiting for is here: Sony is finally about to unveil the physical PS4.

What else does the gaming giant have in store for us? What’s up with the Vita (sigh)? Will the PS3 drop in price? When will the PS4 launch? Stay tuned for our live updates throughout the event, and watch our embed below!

‘Star Wars: Battlefront’ Coming From DICE! Watch A Tiny Teaser!

by Derek Kraneveldt

WOW. I did not expect this.

A new Star Wars: Battlefront is coming from EA. DICE (Battlefield series) is developing, and it’s going to be insane. A tiny teaser trailer was unveiled at EA’s just-concluded E3 press conference, which shows very little about the game aside from the fact that it’s real.

Star Wars: Battlefront II released in 2009, and a sequel was nearly completed before being cancelled by LucasArts. Watch the teaser trailer for the new game below, and let us know if you’re excited!

Briefly: Xbox One Is $499, To Launch This November

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: During today’s Microsoft press conference, the company finally revealed a detail that we’ve all been waiting for: the Xbox One’s price point.

The console is set to launch this November (exact date not set) in 21 countries, for $499, 499 Euros, or £429. 499 Euros? Ouch.

What do you think of the price? Will you be picking up an Xbox One? What did you think of the presentation?

 

E3 2013 ‘EA Press Conference’ Live Stream / Blog

by MoreLikeAndy

EA has already shown their hand with some of their continued support of supplying the yearly updates to sports games at the Microsoft Xbox One Reveal event a couple of weeks back. Watch EA’s press conference below, and follow me as I live blog the rest of what’s in store from EA for the next-gen of console gaming

Halo 5 E3 2013 Teaser and Analysis

by jake108

Earlier during the Microsoft E3 Press Conference, we got our first look at Halo 5.  If you haven’t seen the teaser yet, check it out below!

Halo 4 Spoilers Below!

At the end of Halo 4, Lasky inadvertently brought Master Chief down to Earth and humanized him. This struck a cord in Chief, especially after losing Cortana. It’s clear the loss affected Chief to the point where he is no longer the Spartan we met in 2001.

Halo 5 Tease 6

Thinking back to Halo 3’s E3 2006 trailer, we saw Master Chief walking through the ruins of New Mombassa. He walked with his back straight and chin up. He was a soldier. At the time, Cortana was stuck on High Charity and was on Earth, alone. Still, it would seem that his drive to find her and protect humanity is what gave him determination. Here, Chief is walking a hunched back and head lowered. He’s a Spartan. Wind and desert aren’t going to make him tired, so it leads me to believe that the Master Chief we’re seeing is different, perhaps sad.

Halo 5 Tease 3

This is made evident when he takes out his dog tags. Attached is the the chip in which Cortana resided. Before, we only saw this chip with a blue hue emitting from it. Now, it’s lifeless and hollow.

Halo 5 Tease 5

What surprises me the most is Master Chief’s armor. He’s had some time to fix his armor or even get a new suit. Instead, Chief wears the same armor he used the day he lost Cortana. The fact that it’s still damaged also leads me to believe that he has no A.I. to conduct nanobot repairs.

Now for the other hints.

Halo 5 Tease 4

Because of the orange-yellow colors in the eyes, I have no doubt this thing is Forerunner. My best guess? It’s the Composer. Let’s not forget Master Chief is immune to the Composer’s attacks, because of a gift from the Librarian in Halo 4.

As for the the planet Master Chief is on, the only hint we have is the view of another planet in the sky.

Halo 5 Tease 2

I’ll update if I can find more information, but if you beat me to it, don’t be afraid to comment!

E3 2013: Konami Lays Out its Plans During Their Pre-E3 Show

by Josh Jackson

Moments ago, Konami outlined their plans for E3 next week with a few bombshells along the way. Below are the bullet points of the announcements that the company made during their third annual pre-show.

Konami’s mobile strategy includes a group of new games and apps. These include Domo Jump, MLB Live Challenge, Slot Revolution and Casino League: Texas Hold ‘Em.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 is moving forward with a series of new features that look to make the game as realistic as possible. Using new physics powered by the Fox Engine, PES looks to bring the sport to life with independent player and ball control, realistic strategies and behaviors, a morale system that affects player performance and true to life animations.

MGSV: The Phantom Pain will take place in 1984, and will have a narrative that focuses on race and revenge. Kiefer Sutherland is being brought in to be the new voice of Snake, which includes extensive facial motion capture for main characters and enemies alike, One of the main goals of the game is to mirror live action films, using facial expressions and tone of voice to convey emotions.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 was the meat of this presentation. The game will pick up after the first Lords of Shadow epilogue. Dracula will have three new abilities, including the cursed claws, blood whip and void sword, promising an extra level of strategy. The game is ditching the level based structure of its predecessor for a large world to explore. LoS2 is coming to PS3, Xbox 360 and PC this Winter.

Check out the conference below and let us know what you’re excited about! Keep your eyes peeled for more details on the above announcements throughout the day.

Japan To Receive ‘Monster Hunter 4’ Goods

by J.C. Marquez

If anyone needed further proof that Japanese gamers are a bit spoiled, one need only look at the bevy of Monster Hunter 4 goods coming to Japan later this year.

Earlier last week, Capcom Japan announced that not only one, but two Monster Hunter 4-themed 3DS XL systems will be released in Japan—a Felyne White model and the ultra-sleek Goa Magara Black model. The price for these limited-edition 3DS XL models is yet to be announced, but if anyone ever wanted to import a Japanese 3DS system, either one would be the perfect place to start.

As if the absence of any news regarding a North American release for those sexy handhelds wasn’t enough, then the following may be a dash of salt on the wound.

Today, Capcom Japan announced a limited-edition Monster Hunter 4 bundle will be available to Japanese gamers this September. For 10,990 yen (roughly $110), fans receive a 3DS XL case, complete with strap and a pair of Monster Hunter screen cleaners, and the jewel of the set—a Monster Hunter figure by Sentinel, complete with display stand, weapons, and three different landscape textures. Again, there has yet to be any word if the bundle would be available to North American Monster Hunter fans. Here’s hoping Capcom will have some good news at E3 regarding the availability of both the limited-edition 3DS systems and the Monster Hunter 4 bundle for North American gamers.

 

Goa Magara Black Felyne White  The complete figure setFigure2 Figure3 Figure7 Figure7 Figure6 Figure5 Figure4 Figure1

Source: Capcom Japan

Aksys Games is Heading to E3 with Two New Titles!

by Josh Jackson

Aksys Games, publisher of all things in the super Japanese category here in the west, has announced its E3 plans, including two new titles that they will unveil at the show.

In addition to Muramasa: Rebirth, a Vita remake of what is easily one of the best Wii titles period, the company will show off its mobile plans and feature A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX for the Xbox 360 on top of the mystery games already mentioned.

From the press release:

Two New Titles – We’ll be announcing two new titles that we’re bringing to these here shores!  Are you ready? Stop on by and find out! We’ll have awesome trailers and—oh my goodness!—playables!

·         A Mobile What? – We’ll also be showing off one of our first mobile titles, so if you’re mobile friendly, come on in!

·         Muramasa Rebirth – The critically-acclaimed hit, slated to ship on June 25th, will be available to play!  We’ll also show off that beautiful lithograph for the special edition (it’s really pretty, we promise).

 

·         A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX – Announced back in March, this hit game is set to grace XBLA, and will be playable for the first time on the Xbox 360 at E3. What are you waiting for?!

All I know is that if the two mystery titles aren’t Arc System Works fighting games, BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma and Guilty Gear Xrd: -Sign-… I’m going to cry in a corner. Check back with Geekscape.net for more details as E3 approaches.

New Nintendo Direct Leads us Into the Summer

by Josh Jackson

Another Nintendo Direct has come and gone, and while there wasn’t too much information relating to new games, we did get details on some of the big titles gamers have been waiting angrily patiently for.

Below are the highlights of the conference. Make sure to check back for more detailed information throughout the day.

–Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games coming to the Wii U and 3DS. Featuring many new events, most notably races that combine events into one arcade style Dream Event.

–Sonic Lost World coming exclusively to Wii U and 3DS.

-A large amount of Game Gear titles coming soon to the 3DS eShop. Knuckles Chaotix was not spotted…

-Nintendo Japan announced Yakuza 1-2 HD for the Wii U. No word on a Western release.

–Oracle of Seasons and Ages will be discounted to $4.99 each until June 20th. Release date is May 30th.

–Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D details new world 9. Each level inspired by one of each previous stage.

–Animal Crossing Mii Plaza puzzle and Swapnote available now. Videos discussing the game will be on Nintendo’s YouTube page leading to its June 9th release.

–Game and Wario features a variety of mini games for both single and multiplayer. Releasing on June 23rd for $39.99.

–Resident Evil: Revelations will have Game Pad, Pro Control and off TV support. New infernal difficulty, online features and characters, Hunk and Rachel, added to Raid Mode. Coming May 21st.

–New Super Luigi 2 seems to give each character unique abilities like Luigi’s flutter jump from Mario 2. Mario replaced by Nabbit, who can’t power up but can’t get hurt. Releasing on June 20th as DLC for $19.99 or as a stand alone retail game or $29.99 on August 25th.

–The Wonderful 101 is (FINALLY!) coming to Wii U on September 25th.

–Pikmin 3 stars three new characters, Alph, Charlie and Brittany, who are collecting fruit for their starving planet. The game will use a variety of GamePad functions to help scout stages and re-watch playthroughs. Uses Wii Remote Plus, Pro Controller and off TV play both with the pad and with the Wii Remote using the pad as a monitor. Still scheduled for August 4th.

-Last and most importantly, Best Buy will exclusively house playable E3 demos for the Wii U in the U.S. and Canada, letting consumers experience the new games for themselves.

So that’s about it. While I wish there was more info on new games, I guess that’s what E3 is for. And at least we finally know when Wonderful 101 is coming out! Now onwards to E3.

Microsoft Refutes Always-On Rumor On Upcoming Xbox Codename Durango

by Jeremy Shepherd

Recently, a leaked email to the Microsoft Durango team refutes the Always-On internet connected rumor that was going around regarding the upcoming Xbox Code Name Durango. This information comes courtesy of the often reliable VGleaks.

I was never too concerned with the rumor. However, in the event that my internet was shut off for some reason, I thought about how, in this instance, I would not be able to play my Xbox at all. These rumors come in advance of the upcoming XBox Reveal on Tuesday May 21st. Obviously, addressing this Always-On rumor would have been a major point for fans but via “Leaked” info we now know this to not be true. Whew! We can all let our cable bills lapse a little longer!

All of these flying rumors have us all very much looking forward to what Microsoft has planned for the next generation of gaming. Luckily, we only have over a week left to find out. Which poses the question: after hearing what the PS4 has to offer, what do you guys want to see in the next iteration of the Xbox?

E3 2012 – Geekscape Games Plays SiNG!

by Josh Jackson

Amid the many games to play at the E3 show floor, there was one section of the floor that intrigued me. At the corner of the Nintendo booth, there was a small living room set up with a group of people having the time of their life in it. In a convention full of people who seemed to either hate their jobs or were too concerned with nabbing free stuff to actually take the experience in, actually watching people having fun was a change of pace. As they say, (and by they I mean me,) a party’s not a party until I’m there, so I walked into the SiNG demo booth for WiiU and tried my hand at being the next singing sensation.

Since this was an early build of the recently announced title, there were only a handful of songs to choose from. Of course, there’s only really one choice when Call Me Maybe is on the list, so to show how hip I am with the music the kids listen to these days, destiny decided that would be the song that my voice would lead a room full of Japanese businessmen into a giant dance routine.

The lyrics appeared on the game pad while the screen featured a dancer showing my backup what to do. When the lyrics flashed yellow during the chorus, it meant it was time for the whole room to join in and sing along! It was a simple set up, especially because we were playing in Party Mode, which doesn’t score you and just focused on having fun with the song. It’s a unique way to free up the TV so multiple play styles can converge into one, but while the details behind the game say that there will be a scored singing mode featuring unlimited players for dancing, I hope that’s not PR speak meaning that dancing won’t be scored at all.

Regardless, even though I was surrounded with highly produced, multi million dollar blockbuster games, SiNG with its simplicity was some of the most fun I had all show! I’m looking forward to how the game will develop as it advances, so you can count on a follow up as more details become available.

http://youtu.be/HV93svATZgs

E3 2012 – Geekscape Games Plays Pikmin 3!

by Josh Jackson

I along with pretty much every gamer here at Geekscape backflipped in excitement over the announcement of Pikmin 3. Partially because Pikmin has become a beloved member of the Nintendo household, with two fantastic games from years past, and partially so we won’t have to listen to Jonathan beg for it for another year. But as soon as I hit Nintendo’s booth, I had one priority, which was to see if this long awaited title still had it.

If you happened to catch the E3 reveal, the biggest addition to the game revealed so far is the inclusion of rock Pikmin. These guys can destroy enemy armor as well as crystalized walls that block your team of astronauts from advancing. Rather than collecting set items like before, the Pikmin were tasked with bringing various fruits back to the ship, each one worth a different value of money. Everything from cherries, strawberries and… enemy corpses (?) awarded me more money. Money that I had no idea what to do with, but I’m guessing that will be revealed in time.

One interesting thing was that there were no pods that grew new Pikmin for your team. All of the ones in the demo were already plucked and were just waiting to be found. When the enemies gave me money instead of seeds, I was wondering if we would still get to grow Pikmin at all. Unfortunately, that information wasn’t available yet, (i.e… the demonstrator didn’t know,) so I’ll just hope there will be a better way of expanding other than just coming across them.

Using the game pad as a map proved to be a big help as well, giving you a view of where each fruit was located and allowing you to plan a proper attack. After the stage was over, I had the ability to watch my playback to see where weaknesses in my paths were and try to find how to gather more in less time if I decided to play again.

So essentially, Pikmin 3 felt very familiar, which isn’t a bad thing when you’re as good as Pikmin. With improved graphics and mechanics that make the world feel more real, (like with your characters actually needing supplies to build,) on top of the addition of the Game Pad and motion controls to make playing more efficient, it’s looking like Pikmin 3 just might be worth the wait.

E3 2012 – Geekscape Games Plays Rayman Legends!

by Josh Jackson

Rayman Origins took platforming fans like myself by surprise last year. Finally reclaiming the spotlight and stepping out of the shadow of the party loving Rabbids, Rayman returned to true form by providing possibly the greatest 2D platform experience ever. Not wanting to settle for just being the best, it looks like Ubisoft is taking steps to make sure that Rayman Legends lives up to its name by raising the bar on the classic genre once again.

The WiiU demo on the show floor featured Rayman being controlled by the Classic Controller and his friend Murfy on the Game Pad, people who played Origins will feel right at home. Many of Rayman’s abilities like wall running, swinging and floating have returned with new levels to challenge your platforming grit. The biggest change comes from the graphics, so while many of the animations are the same, the characters are now rendered in 3D, which helps when launching the characters or attacks into the background. Taking out dragons from far away is a sight to behold!

But it’s Murfy that truly brings the new feeling to the game. Unlike Tingle in Wind Waker or playing as the almighty cursor in Mario Galaxy, Game Pad users will guide their character through obstacles in the level. Is there a rope that needs to be cut, bridge that needs lowering or maze that needs tilting? Leave it to Murfy! The tilt control had just the right amount of responsiveness when it came to delicately guiding Rayman out of harm’s way, and really made the Game Pad user feel like an important part of the experience.

I’m looking forward to a whole new set of worlds to tackle with such solid game play. With the trademark humor coming back as well, (musical platforming featuring rocking grannies?) I can’t wait to get a proper 5 player game going. Rayman Legends is shaping up to be even more worthy of your money than Legends was, so when the WiiU finally launches, I know what will be on my must buy list.

E3 2012 – Geekscape Plays Project P-100!

by Josh Jackson

Nintendo’s E3 showing undoubtedly received a mix reaction, but there was one thing that was unanimous; a new title from Platinum Games was a reason to lose your mind. Tentatively titles Project P-100, the developer is definitely showing its Clover roots, with a unique play style to match artwork that looks like a certain Viewtiful hero. But once the game started up, it was something truly special.

Playing as a small super hero, this brave little soldier must fight off hoards of evil robots attacking the colorful town in the demo. He’s not very strong on his own however, so what’s one to do when getting slapped around by killer robots? In P-100, you’ll enlist help from various heroes scattered throughout the town. Like a more action packed Pikmin, gathering a group of heroes gives players the ability to create weapons with them. By drawing on the WiiU Game Pad, your army can morph into a giant fist, a sword that reaches the heavens, a giant pistol or even bridges! Using these powers need batteries though, so when you’re running low, rushing into the enemies with a mighty battle cry will recharge them quickly.

Did I mention the boss fight in the demo was huge? Fighting on top of a giant mech that acted as both an obstacle course and an all out battle was a hell of a lot of fun. All while it was towering over the city below. If these are the heights the game hopes to reach in just the demo, I can only imagine what the final product will be.

Platinum is known for its creativity, and P-100 is looking to be no exception. While it may not have received as much attention as your Mario and Pikmin titles, this game is looking like it could be THE reason to own a WiiU when it’s released. And as always, when more information becomes available, make sure to check back here for the latest updates.

Lucas Till Talks Havok In ‘X-Men: First Class’ Sequel

by Shawn Madden

One of the best pieces of casting when it came to ‘looking the part’ ‘First Class’ was Lucas Till as Alex Summers, also known as Havok. While they did take a few liberties, I do think they did a good job with the character. Hopefully we will get a little more screen time for Alex Summers this time, as we didn’t get much character development the first time around.

IGN spoke with Till at E3 this past week about the upcoming sequel.

“All I know is that my mom told me we’re going to start shooting in January. It’s funny because she tells me everything that goes on before I know. I don’t know if you saw, but Havok shoots hula hoops out of his body. I remember when (director Matthew Vaughn) told me, and I was like, ‘NOOOO!’ It’s going to ruin it for all the fans of Havok and I tried to make the best of it, but I really hope in the next one that the chest piece—because there’s always that circle in the middle so you could tell where his power level was at—but not necessarily used as a device to channel the energy from. I want some gauntlets or something to shoot it out of my hands, and I want Polaris in there. I want a sexy green-haired girl to fall in love with. That’s all I’m asking for.”

 

E3 2012 – Star Wars 1313 Gameplay Trailers

by Shane O'Hare

If you couldn’t already tell, we are very excited for Star Wars 1313. The E3 hype machine keeps running. Gander your eye holes at Star Wars 1313 in full moving pictures!

Now I was already sold on this game when I heard the premise, saw the pics and read the preview. Seeing it MOVE is like…it’s like sex. The seamless trailers-to-gameplay part made my whole body tingle. I publicly swore off Star Wars after the fucking dance fiasco, but 1313 may have revived my Star Wars love.

E3 2012 Continues! The “Geekscapepod” For June 6th, 2012!

by Jonathan

E3 2012 continues! Sony’s press conference snoozes! The Nintendo WiiU innovates! The return of the Pikmin! Is Star Wars 1313 the Star Wars we’ve wanted for so long? New trailers for Django Unchained and Wreck-It Ralph! New directors for Captain America 2! Is a Justice League movie coming soon? First Class 2 and Black Panther movie rumors and goodbye Mr. Ray Bradbury!

Find it on iTunes

And check out my very limited E3 photo gallery!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:56 — 20.2MB)