PART 2: SONY!

Now less then a week away, the always eventful E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo already looks like it'll be one exciting ride for all involved. From the hungry videogame media looking for the hottest scoops to us gamers, who are always eager to hear anything of the latest and greatest titles. Without a doubt we are in for a good couple of surprises when E3 kicks off early next week, I just hope we don't get any laughable performances of Wii Music again at the Nintendo Press Conference. I still have nightmares about that afterall. For part 2 of my preview towards the E3 Expo, I wanted to take a look at one of the defining companies of videogame history. Sony!

While there is simply no denying that there not the most liked videogame company right now, and the Playstation 3 still hasn't reached anywhere near the overall success of it's older brothers. One cannot say that Sony aren't trying, even if some of their attempts to reach a bigger audience have rather failed. The talk on the videogame town say that Sony are in for one big E3, with a number of new games set to be announced and more information revealed on a few of the titles we already know of. But there could be bigger surprises around the corner, so there is quite a lot to discuss and hopefully I'll get around to having my own say on what I think we can expect from Sony's E3 Press Conference. Keep in mind that rumours being rumours, I can't be totally sure if what I discuss will actually make an appearance at E3. As I said anumber of times in Part 1 of my preview, 'you never know what you'll get at E3'. 

READY, SET, GO!

While I'd normally be eager to talk about the Playstation 3, one cannot have missed many of the rumours surrounding Sony's portable console. The Playstation Portable as had a tough time of it when compared to Nintendo massively successful DS system, and Sony themselves clearly know that changes need to be made. So the big rumour currently making the rounds, is that Sony will unveil a brand new Playstation Portable. This new PSP, or 'PSP Go!' as the media have taken to calling it. Looks to fix many of the issues affecting the current versions of Sony's portable gaming system. One area in which Sony will look to fix potentially the PSP's biggest problem, could come in the form of digital distribution. Piracy is having a massive affect upon game sales on the Playstation Portable and we've suspected that Sony would make a change to the way they sell games on the system. It's worth noteing that a slight version of digital distribution as already taken place. Patapon 2 was a download only game though a coded boxed version was released in retailers. 

It seems quite possible that Sony will look to implement a full Playstation Store service onto the PSP Go! Any current PSP owner will tell you that the Playstation Store is already available on the system, so this really isn't that far a stretch for Sony and would make perfect sense. Though what will happen with the UMD's we currently own is yet to be found out. There have been a number of other speculated specifications to the PSP Go! Touch screen technology as been talked about and a sliding screen as also been mentioned in articles around the web. While I can totally see this new PSP Go! ditching the UMD format all together, I'm not yet convinced that Sony's portable system would truly benefit from having a iPhone/DS like touch screen. 

Any gamer who keeps up with the latest pieces of news will tell you that talk of the PSP2 as been making the rounds for over a year now and the recent slices of information hitting sites such as Kotaku, seems to hold some truth. Infact much of the gaming media are now fully expecting the PSP Go! to be announced at the Sony Press Conference next tuesday. If so, then as a PSP owner myself I'd be interested to see what Sony could bring to the portable gaming platform a full second time round. I've always said that the Playstation Portable is a fine system, it's just all to common to see developers put out poor ports of existing PS2/PS3 games rather then developing unique games that use the systems potential strengths. While there as been much talked about the finer detailed of this new PSP, I think for now it's best to keep my mouth shut and wait to see what E3 brings. One thing is for sure though, I'm excited to see if these rumours are true. I suspect they are. 

PRICE DROP ANYONE?

While one would expect games or peripherals to be the talking point of a videogame console as we near the actual event. It seems a lot of the talk surrounds the ever needed price drop for the Playstation 3. Now I'll admit that my PS3 cost me quite a lot when I purchased one at launch here in Europe, but I've never regretted my investment and already feel I've had my moneys worth when it comes to entertainment. But even I can see that a price drop would do sales of the Playstation 3 the world of good, especially when one takes a closer look at the current price of the Xbox 360. Which is (with due respect to the Nintendo Wii) it's main source of competition within the hardcore crowd of videogamers. Will we actually get to see a price drop at E3? My answer would be a simple no!

There as been a recent story concerning a potential PS3 slim but at first sight of that story, I sensed it was a cheap knockoff. So we are still unsure if an actual price cut will hit the Playstation 3, I personally see one coming at the Tokyo Game Show myself. I'm not sure why, I just get the sense that it would make more sense for Sony to announced the drop in retail price at that videogame event. I've said this before, but if your eager to get a Playstation 3 then just save up and get one. It's not worth waiting for an actual price drop, it's a good value package now and there are enough games to get excited about. I just don't see a drop in the price being announced by Sony at their press conference or anytime soon, though I could be totally wrong and Sony could make me look like a fool. 

ANYONE FOR A GAME OR TWO?

Hopefully the Sony E3 Press Conference won't all be about the PSP Go! and sales figures for the Playstation 2 and Playstation 3. Last years talk of sales was only made bearable by LittleBigPlanet's unique way of showing us boring dull figures with the use of Mr Sackboy and it was all rather entertaining. We do know of a number of games that will make an appearance and a few of them are very exciting indeed. I'm personally eager to see more of God of War 3, without a doubt one of the 'big' titles for Sony this year and of course I can't forget Uncharted 2: Among Thieves being such a fan of the original . I'd also love to see some unique smaller developed titles be given some press coverage. I loved games like Flower and Pixel Junk Eden and hope to see more of these styled games hit PSN in the years to come. A new Pixel Junk game as already been announced so we should be seeing more of that at the actual event. 

Will we be seeing some Twisted Metal at E3? Well probably not if David Jaffe is to be believed, he's already stated that they will be showing 'nothing' at this years E3 event. That will come as a great disappointment to many who were eager to see what the latest Twisted Metal game could bring to the Playstation 3. One of the most exciting reveals that we could potentially see, comes in the form of Hideo Kojima's latest title which is currently being teased thanks to this site. There is currently a lot we don't know concerning Kojima Productions newest game. The game being a PS3 exclusive seems quite possible though, considering recent information from the Famitsu PS3 & PSP edition Magazine advertising the new 'Metal Gear' game. 

We should also be seeing more of MAG and a number of other titles which will hopefully excite Playstation 3 owners. If talk is to be believed, then Sony are looking to have a big E3 this year. Media insiders speak of some big announcements and there's potentially even more we don't know of. For example, will we be seeing the LittleBigPlanet PSP? Will there be any new improvements to Playstation Home? Possible motion controlled accessories? What about the Playstation 2? Who knows what we might get, though I shall admit to being rather excited at seeing what the Sony Press Conference will bring. There is always a big war between the three big kings of gaming and each want to come out of E3 knowing they produced the most exciting and entertaining E3 press conference. It's a big year for the PS3, and there are many a gamer eager to see if Sony can truly bring the fight to the Xbox 360.

What are you most excited to see at this years E3 Expo?
Check Back for Part 3: Nintendo! Soon!

A TEASER FOR A TEASER!

Welcome to my Blog folks,

Well it's a beautiful Bank Holiday Monday here in beautiful Blightly, and I know I should be outside catching the rays as it were. But that's not my style and to be totally honest with you reader, I'd probably look rather stupid doing so. So I felt it was time I discussed another matter that's recently been bugging me for my latest blog entry. An issue that seems to be a key point of discussion for many a gamer, something that we all seem to have a love/hate relationship with. Yes, you'd probably guessed from the title already that I'm talking about teasers. 

Teasers in the videogame industry have become a popular Public Relations tactic nowadays. We recently saw the shamefully short teasers for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Kojima Productions 'NEXT' site with it's countdowns to countdowns that have been driving many gamers mad. Look around the web and you'll see that for the most part, it's become a much hated new method of building excitement around a game. Now I'm in two halves when it comes to the teasing of specific games, while I don't always believe it's such a bad thing and can do a game the greatest of good. There is simply no denying that it's rather easy for companies to take it a little to far. Strangely I have less issue with the Kojima Productions teaser site then I did with Modern Warfare 2's blink of a eye teaser trailers. While I'd agree that 4 or 5 different countdown timers are a little on the excessive side, the Kojima Productions site as kept me interested for the slightest piece of information on Hideo Kojima's next title. 

On the other hand, I can't help but feel as if the recent Modern Warfare 2 teasers have made me less interested in the game. Which is obviously not what they were intended to do, but that could just be me. The Kojima site feels better organized and planned out, it's also strangely fascinating to watch. It's worth noting that both Modern Warfare 2 and Kojima Productions new game are two very different beasts. With Modern Warfare 2, we sort of know what were going to get while we have hardly any true idea what Hideo Kojima's new game will be. But even with that in mind, I still think the Modern Warfare 2 teasing as a had a negative effect on me. Which begs the question if any form of tease for a game actually really works?

Most folk will tell you 'of course they do, don't be a fool' but I've never been to sure. We all know gamers are an hard bunch to please, and we only truly enjoy teasers that have been smartly thought out or truly taken us by surprise. Nowadays we expect to be teased on the latest and greatest titles, but are we still enjoying the PR campaigns like we use to? I'll admit I'm a fan of smartly thought out teases, a fine example of this is found in the recent InFamous demo from developers Sucker Punch Productions. For those that look close enough, you'll see a 'Sly Cooper 4' listing on the front of a cinema building. Now this may or may not be an actual teaser, but it's little inclusions like this that I still get a kick out of. I just wish more PR departments tried being a little more adventurous when advertising their latest game. 

While I believe that PR as a place in the Videogame industry, and probably does the industry more good then harm. It's all still so clear that all to often mistakes are made. It's become common site to see a terrible put together videogame commercial or poorly thought out poster in the middle of a busy city. We've seen a lot of good games be given terrible often sickening commercials that have even become InFamous in their own right (see what I did there!). While I can have a small moan, even writing this is a sign that PR campaigns do work in an odd sense. The original intention of teases such as the Kojima Production site, are to get folks talking about every last detail and that's exactly what I've been doing lately. So I can't really talk and I don't actually hate the way games are advertised nowadays. I just wish more thought was used by PR companies around the World. 

Now teasers still won't sit well with me, and I'm not totally convinced that they have such a massive influence on us gamers as companies would like to believe. It's also clear that it could even harm the eagerness and hype for a game, and possibly even over shadow the eventual unveiling. While I don't believe there is any danger of that happening with Hideo Kojima's new title, I still wonder what degree influence PR companies should have over videogame developers and the industry as a whole. It's worth noteing that it's not just the videogame industry that suffers, the movie industry is also a fine example of where PR can go wrong. So folks will have their own view on teasers, be them in the form of sites or trailers. But there still going to be part of the industry in the years to come and with the E3 Entertainment Expo literally a week away, I think we can expect a hell of a lot more around the corner. 

Do PR campaigns have a positive or negative effect on the industry as a whole?

Thanks for Reading, 
Joseph Bayliss (TrueEnglishGent)
(Twitter: JosephBayliss)

ELECTRIFYING, EXCITING, ELEGANT AND THAT'S JUST THE DEMO!

InFamous is electrifying in more ways then one, this latest game from Sly Cooper developers Sucker Punch. Looks to provide Playstation 3 owners with an exclusive to be proud of and if the demo is anything to go by, all PS3 owners are in for one hell of a treat. The demo hit the Playstation Network this evening and I was eager to get a taste of the action before the game gets an official release next week. Interestingly, a demo as been available for a good while now through codes though I was not able to obtain one. So like many other eager PS3 owners, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

THE DEFINITION OF ELECTRIFYING!

The InFamous demo is actually rather big compared to most demos of today, it provides an almost perfect chance for potential buyers to get a taste of it's overall gameplay and get use to the rather odd feel of Cole's building jumping skills. It might also play a large part in helping purchasers feel less unconfortable when they jump into the full retail game next week, for InFamous can feel a little odd at first experience. While it's control setup can seem rather simple, in the heat of the action it can take sometime to feel at home with and it took me a reasonable length into the demo to adjust my play style to. Once you've become use to it's slightly odd control setup and Cole's jumpy movements, you realize that InFamous is one of the most action packed experiences in videogames today. The overall pace of gameplay can seem a little out of control at times, but that's the point and once you feel confortable with the controls. You soon realize that InFamous is full of possibilities when the action heats up.

At first point, InFamous didn't particularly make a great impression. Though this is no surprise considering it's a demo afterall and it does throw you partly into the deep end with some tough enemies and missions to undertake. At one point in the demo, where I was protecting a shipment for survivors of the blast while fending off villians left, right and centre. I found myself struggling to handle Cole's unique powers and the enemies rushing towards me, it's clear that being able to master and understand Cole's abilities will be key to winning fights in Empire City. I became very fond of Cole's electronic shock styled grenades, which were performed using L1 and square. This powerful ability split from one electric grenade into multiple smaller ones, causing great amounts of damage. I was rather impressed with the movement and understanding of the A.I at this point, they reacted with speed and were tough buggers to take down.

This was especially concerning when one considers that Cole could be taken down rather easily in that section of the demo. Now it's very possible that I wasn't using is powers properly, but with such fast paced action going on all around you. Well it's easy to see how Cole could get harmed in the heat of a fight. It was also rather clear that developers Sucker Punch, had this issue in mind for once Cole is taken down. The game loads up very near where you were killed, so if you die in the middle of a mission the game will allow you to continue. While this might seem a little cheap and unchallenging for some gamers out there, I personally welcomed it as it's clear that InFamous's missions and enemies were designed to provide the gamer with one hell of a challenge. The few missions in the demo were a joy to play though and a lot of fun.

One other key feature of InFamous is of course the city itself. Empire City is a destroyed and decaying place, but surprisngly alive with quarantined citizens who can both love Cole and fear him depending on how you play. The demo actually gives you a chance to experience both sides of the coin and while Cole's powers are generally the same, there are clear differences between the two. Being good means that your more careful and precise with your electrical abilities while Cole's evil side allows for more grander almost epic powers that don't care what they hit, enemy or innocent civilian. It's also clear that these key moral decisions you make, will have an impact on the tale InFamous will tell.

I intended to keep this demo impressions article short but already it's become longer then I'd wished. There are a number of other key areas of the game I could yap on about for hours, but I think it best that everyone experiences this fine demo for themselves. It's a rather large download so patience might be required, but the demo does what good demos do best. Provides gamers with a clear chance to see what a specific title is all about and allows those potential purchasers to make a final decision on if to splash the cash or not. For me, well I currently have the game preordered (with the Uncharted 2: Among Thieves code included) and I can't see that changing. While there are still one or two concerns I have for InFamous, the demo was an absolute blast and a lot of fun. I highly recommend folks check this one out as soon as possible. 

The E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo is a golden event, much loved by those involved in this wonderful industry. For some years now, it's been the main event on the videogame calender and is the source of all sorts of talk and rumour. While it's an event which as had it's up's and down's over the past few years, it's never left the hearts of gamers around the World and probably never will.This years E3 will hopefully see a return to form and while it's trying to reproduce the hectic often disorganized bedlam of old, the organisers are hoping for it to be a memorable event. With just a week or so to go, it's clear that already E3 2009 could be a special event indeed. 

So this is why I wanted to have my thoughts on this wonderful time for all gamers around the globe. As a dedicated gamer, I throughally enjoy all aspects found within the working mechanics of the industry. The odd tactics taken to get the upper hand on competition, the often weird experiences of E3 itself and of course those unforgettable press conferences all gamers watch with eager eyes. Now last years E3 never truly got started and was rather bland compared to past years, but when one considers that it was a rather carm year for for videogaming itself (despite Nintendo's continued rise), it was no surprise that we weren't blown away. My actual memories of E3 2008, were the fantastic Bombcasts from Giantbomb and a number of big named franchises becoming multiplatform. 

So what of E3 2009, well to begin my first preview. I wanted to take a seperate look at the three big console kings and discuss just what they could bring to the table for dedicated fans to chew over. Now I've said this many times, but I owe no loyalty to any specific console. So when thinking about the first videogame giants to start with, I thought it only best to begin with the current leaders of the hardcore videogame war, those American money-making men and women at Microsoft. 

Even the most deluded Sony fanboy or fangirl, cannot deny the recent domination of Microsoft's Xbox 360 console. While that domination is starting to show signs slight signs of collapsing, it's still the better value of the two hardcore offerings with a much better catalogue of games. But this could potentially be another big year for Microsoft and the Xbox 360, so what might we expect to see when Microsoft kicks off it's press conference with eager media eyes and gamers around the World tuning in for the latest news and reveals. 

Well let's get one thing out of the way, we can expect some Halo. Now while I've personally lost interest in the Halo franchise as a whole, it's still beloved by millions of fans and deserves that loyalty. We already know that we'll see some Halo: ODST and that alone might interest me more then a potential Halo 4. We still haven't seen any true footage of ODST, and it's clear from reading forums around the web that this latest Bungie title/expansion is eagerly anticipated. So while it's no great surprise to hear of a new Halo entry being shown at E3, there could be some surprises in the form of a new motion detecting camera rumoured to be announced. 

Now it's worth stating that a rumour very much like this, in the form of the much discussed motion controller. Had been expected to be announced at last years E3 Expo, the talk on the town was that Microsoft cancelled it's unveiling late on. Can't blame them, the thought of the Xbox 360 getting a motion controller made me slightly sick. But recently a motion controlled camera developed by 3DV as been rumoured and discussed to some degree by the gaming media. This new camera will apparently follow the same functionality at Sony's EyeToy and we all know how well that went for Sony. So both myself and many other gamers are yet to be convinced that the 360 needs another camera.

But we have yet to officially see it announced, it as only been rumoured though sources. Though those sources do seem rather strong. So I think it can be expected, that a reveal will be made in the Microsoft press conference this coming E3. While it's another clear sign that the American giants of technology are trying to tap into the Wii audience, this new camera doesn't feel as desperate as a motion controller would have been. So I'm keeping my full judgement on it, until I finally see it in actual action. It's clear from reading comments on media articles concerning the camera, that Microsoft will have to do a lot to win hardcore fans over. Especially when one looks at Sony's EyeToy for example. 

So while the videogame media as been debating this new camera, as expected. Most Xbox 360 owners have been discussing what's next in the form of videogames for this ever popular gaming console. Well as I said previously, Halo ODST is expected to be shown at the event. Plus Forza Motorsport 3 is also expected to be revealed, but there could also be some surprises to get excited about to. For example a Crackdown 2 as been long rumoured now, and there is a very possible chance that that might just make an appearance. Of course we should not forget Assassins Creed 2, Splinter Cell: Convinction, Mass Effect 2 and a number of other highly anticipated titles.

Peter Molyneux's new game as also been hinted at, who knows what Peter could be developing or if it will be shown at E3. Not to forget the long and now rather dull rumours concerning a Metal Gear game appearing on the Xbox 360 console. Now while at one point I would have seen this as being a possible move for Kojima Productions, I'm now not to convinced we will ever see a Metal Gear game on the 360. But that's not to say we won't see a developed game from Hideo Kojima himself appearing on the console in years, months maybe even weeks to come. You simply never know. 

New downloadable content also seems very possible. Rockstar have hinted at the first details of GTA4 Episode 2 being announced and we already know that Epic are bringing more Gears of War 2 DLC to the table, surely we'll see some of that at E3. Bethesda could also reveal the first of the two new pieces of Fallout 3 DLC, one being the recently reported Lookout Point. There will no doubt be more downloadable content from a number of different games, I'm hoping forward to hearing some news on potential new albums hitting Rock Band 2 to go along with my eagerness for the new piece of GTA4 DLC. Every gamer is looking for something different, and E3 usually does surprise you in the weirdest of ways. 

What else can we expect Microsoft to bring at the E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009. Well the avatar loving 1 vs 100 could be discussed in greater detail by Microsoft, there are still many questions to be answered concerning this free downloable game and a general improvement to avatars as a whole is very much a possibility. Being European, I'd love to either hear of some new services hitting European Xbox Live or a price drop to gold membership considering we don't get some of the features other parts of the World get. But Microsoft being American, and this taking place in the US. Well lets just say I don't expect much.

Microsoft are keeping their cards close to their chests right now. No reveals are expected until E3 itself and there highly anticipated press conference. Discussions and debates will continue until then, and I personally am looking forward to see what they can deliver. Especially when one looks at the potential offerings of Sony this year, who could have one of their biggest E3's yet if talk is to be believed. Me personally, well it's all about Assassins Creed 2 and Mass Effect 2. Those are the two main games that have me excited the most when E3 launches at the start of June and who knows, we mught see some totally brand new ip's to get us all excited.

This years E3 could go one of two ways for Microsoft, while it could generally be seen as a turning point for Sony. I can't help but think it's Microsoft who potentially need to bring some heavy hitters to this years event in Los Angeles, California. They need to continually been seen as the leaders of this generations hardcore gamers, and while I don't see motion controlled cameras having a big effect on gamers like myself. I'd still be rather interested to see how it works and how it's going to affect the way I see and play videogames. If it's anything like the Nintendo Wii Motion Controller, it'll probably have no affect on my gaming habits what so ever. But with the E3 Electronics Entertainment Expo, you simply can never know!

What do you think we'll see from Microsoft at E3 2009?
Check back for Part 2: Sony.

Thanks for Reading, 
Joseph Bayliss (TrueEnglishGent)
(Twitter: JosephBayliss)

But I have a serious issue with the voicework and character designs in that game. It looks fantastic, I knew that already from the footage I'd seen over the recent months. But the voicework was horrid, especially the main protagonist Yuri Lowell. Now I shall admit to not knowing a lot about Japanese Anime, nor the customs and methods of designing a character. But I was almost certain that Yuri was a female protagonist who actually seem like a rather deep and interesting main figure in the game. I had not actually heard any English voicework prior to the demo, but I was shocked to hear that deep manly voice come from Yuri's mouth. I'm usually a pretty relaxed kind of gamer, but I had a weird reaction to hearing that voice. Yuri looks so much like a female character it's scary, and the developers thought it was a good idea to give him/her (I'm confussed) the most manly deep voice possible. 

It would have worked better if he was given a softer tone of voice, but I honestly couldn't see myself getting use to Yuri as the main character in a videogame that could last me a good many hours. Now I have no intention of this being my final judgement of the game, I had heard a lot of impressive praise for Tales of Vesperia when it came out in North American. But it's made me question my original purchase plans. It's not just Yuri either, there's one or two other pieces of voicework  that sent shivers down my spine. One voice in particular sounded as if it was voiced by the squeakiest voice actor/actress in squeakland, I'm usually perfectly fine with such voicework as I play The Sims afterall. But that voice will haunt me in nightmares from now on, truly a scary sound. 

Never in my videogame playing lifetime, as a games voicework questioned my decision to purchase the game. Now I've said this before, but you can't judge a game by it's demo and I know I shan't be doing that. But I like to be confortable with the characters I'm playing in a videogame, maybe even get to like them to a certain degree. Yuri Lowell makes me feel unconfortable, please don't think I'm a bad person for thinking this. I'm sure he is beloved by many Anime fans and I know bugger all about Anime to be totally honest. Maybe I will eventually grow to like him and his deep manly voice, but for now I think I'll stick with the Japanese voiceovers even though I often can't stand them in Japanese Roleplaying Games either. I'll see how I feel when the game get's released in Europe on June the 26th, maybe all my concerns will be carmed by Yuri Lowell as his disturbing deep English Voicework.

Thanks for Reading,
Joseph Bayliss (TrueEnglishGent)
(Twitter: JosephBayliss)

Hope everyone is well, it looks as if we are in for a good couple of rainy days here in good old Blighty. It's been an odd recent few weeks to be honest. While it's clear that Spring as truly arrived in all it's beauty (along with the many thousands of bugs that get on my nerves), my actual gaming activities have been rather light to a certain degree. That's not to say that I haven't been playing games, I simply haven't been dedicated to one specific game of late. While I'm hopeing to finish off another playthrough of Mass Effect on PC in the next few days, I'm also getting slightly hyped for the up and coming E3 Expo and a couple of games hitting stores within the next few weeks. 

Now I do not wish to talk to much about the E3 Expo in this blog entry, I have though been enjoying some of the early rumours and talk surrounding this ever popular videogame event. Infact, only recently I created my own personal little list of the top games I'm most anticipated to hear or see something off when the Expo starts at the beginning of June. Hopefully there will be more games to be excited about then last years somewhat dull event, though Giantbomb did a fine job of entertaining gamers around the World with their drunk podcasts every night. But let's get onto what I really wanted to discuss today, that being Sucker Punch Productions PS3 exclusive InFamous which hits stores the end of May. 

Now it's fair to say that already, InFamous as become the new battleground for Fanboys and Fangirls around the World. You only have to visit an InFamous related YouTube video to see the discussions and abuse both Xbox 360 and PS3 fans are dishing out to each other. Now I'm happily not a fanboy of any sorts, and I know I'm rather lucky in being able to experience what both the Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles have to offer. I'll also admit to being quite a fan of InFamous for sometime now, while it seems to me that most fanboy discussions end up asking the question 'Prototype or InFamous?' I'd personally answer with 'Why not both?'

If I'm frankly honest with you reader, I'd probably have to place my loyalty with InFamous. That's not to say I'm not excited by what Prototype could bring to the videogame table, it's just my main concerns have not been quashed by the footage or details I've already learnt of Prototype. But back to InFamous for a second, for a good couple of months now the gaming media have been quite high in praise of this new ip from Sly Cooper developers Sucker Punch Productions. Now I have no wish to go over the exact details of the game, there's a chance you probably already know everything that needs to be known right now and to be totally honest, that would be rather dull. But I'm quite happy to see the PS3 get a new exclusive for once, especially when you take a look at what the Xbox 360 as to bring to the table when it comes to exclusives. Let's just say that for the most part, the Xbox 360 blows the PS3 out of the water. 

So it's nice to see the PS3 getting a little something special, and it seems InFamous could indeed be something special. Though it's technically not doing anything that hasn't been done to a certain degree already, it's the way it's being done that gets most PS3 fans excited. You only have to see footage of the game to see that there's a fluidity to InFamous's gameplay. Some folks have compared it to the recent LucasArt's title 'Star Wars: The Force Unleashed' and I can see the likeness, though deep within I believe them to be two very different beasts. InFamous is clearly a super hero sort of tale, Cole himself feels somewhat based around a mix of Batman, Spiderman and maybe even a little bit of Lord Sidious. As the player, you can decide if Cole will do his part for Empire City and help the people in need or take advantage of the situation and be a generally violent kind of guy.

Meaningful changes in videogames are nothing new, infact they've been about for as long as I can remeber. But there always enjoyable if they are presented with care and signs are that InFamous is looking to make the gamer think before they finally electricute that poor helpless man in the middle of the street. The game will eventually take you down the good or bad paths, with both sides of the coin offering there own advantages and disadvantages. Early reviews have stated that the game as a good length to it, not to mention the many side-missions that scatter Empire City which will surely add some more game time to the mix. InFamous also feels like one of those games where you'll be eager for your second playthrough, of course most gamers will want to see both sides of the tale this PS3 exclusive as to tell anyway. 

If there are still some concerns about the game, a demo is set to hit PSN I believe this week (though I'm not 100% sure). Hopefully that will interest a few more PS3 owners, though I suspect most PS3 owners are already eager to get their hands on this exciting title when it eventually hits retail stores at the end of May around the Globe. There are still one or two concerns of my own, but those concerns are simply not big enough for me to question my preordering of the game. With InFamous electrifying stores at the end of May (I apologise for that joke), the E3 Expo starting up in the beginning of June and The Sims 3 hitting stores on June 5th. Well, let's just say that I'm in for a good few weeks of gaming and cannot wait.

Have any thoughts concerning InFamous or maybe even Prototype yourself? then please leave a comment.

Thanks for Reading,
Joseph Bayliss (TrueEnglishGent)
(Twitter: JosephBayliss)

5. Half Life 2: Episode 3.

Half Life fans have been waiting a while for any news on the third episode in the fantastic Half Life 2 episodic series, and yet it still seems we wait. I for one, really do hope Valve Software finally offer us some solid information on episode 3. We know it's coming, but when exactly and why is it taking so long? The Half Life 2 episodes originally were going to appear a couple of months apart but the latest episode (Episode 2) was released in October of 2007, so what exactly is going on with the development of Episode 3. Well one things for sure, we can expect more improvements to the ever popular Source engine. Hardly any information as been leaked and only a couple of concept screens have been seen on the web. Strangely it almost seems to have been slightly forgotten by sections of the gaming media and rarely gets discussed much nowadays. Though the media is probably as sick of waiting as most fans of the series. While we can't be sure of seeing anything at E3, surely it's an almost perfect place to unveil the first true details of the third and final episode?

4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

A game that will be high on many a gamers list this coming E3, Modern Warfare 2 already looks like a sure bet to sell millions even though we have seen very little of the game. The latest in this successful first-person shooter franchise looks to build upon the stunning work done in the original game. We haven't been offered any great pieces of information or much footage (though a new teaser trailer shows off some footage), but with the first full trailer hitting on May the 24th. I think it's fair to say that we will be hearing a lot of Modern Warfare 2 when E3 begins and I'm sure excited to know more. While it was the online modes that truly made Modern Warfare the financial success that it was, I personally have always adored the single player campaigns and who truly knows where this second installment will take us. Though it might have something to do with snowmobiles and scubber diving. 

3. God of War 3.

Potentially the most exciting PS3 title to keep an eye out for at E3, God of War 3 looks to continue the fine series which first saw fame on the PS2 some years back. While somethings have changed, God of War 3 still looks to be as violent and thrilling as any of the past games. First unveiled at last years E3, it is expected that Sony will announce a release date at this years E3. Though the talk on the videogame street (which doesn't exist by the way) is that we won't be seeing Kratos in full beautiful HD on the PS3 until 2010. Some footage as already been shown in the form of trailers and teasers, it's fair to say that GoW3 will be one stunning looking game and some leaked gameplay footage some months back clearly showed that the trailers were using the in-game engine. So there's potentially a lot to look forward to if your a God of War fan like myself this coming E3.

2. Mass Effect 2.

While Mass Effect 2 as been known about for a while now, true details concerning the game have been scarce and even when developers Bioware have been directly asked, they've been somewhat quiet on even the basic of details. So there are many questions to be asked, and I for one hope that some of these questions will receive answers this coming E3. Project Director Casey Hudson as already stated that things will become a little more clear at E3 potentially in the form of the first official trailer. I happily admit to being very excited about the first true details of Mass Effect 2, the original was a brilliant RPG that blew any JRPG out of the water. I know I'm not the only one excited to see what Bioware will do with the sequel, the second of a trilogy of games. There as been some simply stunning concept art released but I and many others want o see more at E3.

1. Assassins Creed 2.

While it is a close call between this and Mass Effect 2, I won't deny my great love for Assassins Creed. I adored the original despite the large amount of hate it received upon release, and it still offered one of the best atmospheric worlds created in any videogame. I've already talked enough about my love for the original in past blogs and articles, but I am truly excited about this sequel and where it could be taking the series. Some key pieces of information have already been released or leaked out, and a number of new gameplay mechanics have been shown off in the form of apparent screenshots. But it will still be nice to finally see the first official full trailer of the game this coming E3. What can we expect from Ezio? Is he a descendant of Desmond? What of Desmond's tale in all of this? Hopefully some of this will become clear at E3 2009.


So that's my most anticipated games of E3 2009, I can write this but we never know what might appear at this often odd but wonderful event. Nintendo will have hopefully learn't from last years terrible press conference and hopefully all three developers will be able to provide us gamers with more of an entertaining show (though anyone who didn't find Nintendo playing Wii Music funny as no soul). As we approach June, I'll be doing more blogs concerning the event and what I think we can expect. Hopefully Giantbomb will provide the fantastic coverage and drunk podcast we all loved from last year, it was all so very entertaining.

Thanks for Reading,
Joseph Bayliss (TrueEnglishGent)
(Twitter: JosephBayliss)

While viewing information for The Sims 3, the latest in the massively selling life simulation games from Electronic Arts. I noticed many questions that went unanswered, questions usually from those who enjoy this popular series but don't understand what exactly is new about The Sims 3. So it's with this in mind that I wanted to try and answer some of the smaller but still important questions I have seen asked around the World Wide Web. This is a quick and simple article, but hopefully it might make things a little clearer for those slightly confussed about this latest installment. So let's begin:

A. Well there are potentially many different answers to this question, often depending on the way you play The Sims. But if you wish to know what exactly is 'new' over it's predecessors then please let me explain:

- New Seamless Open Neighbourhood (gone are the loading screens of old).

- New unique personality traits allowing gamers to perfect their Sims design. 

- Huge improvements to Build and Buy, allowing for much more specific customization (including the new Create a Style tool).

- New Online functionality allows for even more community built items to reach your The Sims 3 experience easily. 

If you wish to know more detailed information on these new features, then please visit The Sims 3 official site.

A. No, it seems many people still believe it is being developed by Will Wright's former development studio Maxis who of course originally created The Sims and developed it's sequel. The Sims 3 is being developed by an internal EA studio, EA Redwood Shores to be precise. Maxis are currently at work on Spore, though I personally believe The Sims series is in safe hands at EA Redwood Shores. 

A. Yes, basically the developers wanted the life experience of your Sims to be key to your time playing. So rather then making sure they go to the toilet every couple of minutes, your Sims are now a lot smarter and can control their own needs without your supervision. They have removed two of the original eight needs found in The Sims 1 and it's sequel. These two needs being Confort and Environment, both needs I'm finally glad to see the back of personally. With these changes in place, the developers hope that gamers can now create better stories rather then babysitting their Sims every move.

A. The Create a Style tool is one of the most interesting (and welcomed) new features of The Sims 3. This tool will allow creative folk to be 'creative' when building houses or even creating their very own Sims. The tool is somewhat based upon the pre-defined styles found in The Sim 2, for example when you bought a chair you could select from a number of different patterns or designs. With the Create a Style tool, you can well... create your own style to any degree you want. This Sims 3 trailer shows off the new tool a little and it should allow for better interior designs. It's not just houses that can use the Create a Style tool either, cloths and hair colour can also be modified using this new feature and should allow for even more insane degrees of creative customization. 

A. Yes, infact there is quite a few small features that will already be found in the retail version of The Sims 3. These include the 'Young Adult' life stage and mobile phones (University), private cars, personal Sim inventories and restaurants (Nightlife). Fishing and gardening (Seasons), Jewelry and Beaches (Bon Voyage) and Toothbrushing and ceilings (Apartment Life). None of the large main features from past expansion packs will feature, though it will only be a matter of time before the first expansion pack details for The Sims 3 are released. There as 'apparently' been a video released showing of images from the first expansion pack which might hint at a possible reveal sooner then we expect. Though I have yet to find this video so I am dubious. 

Q. As any improvements been made to Create a Sim?
A. Apart from the obvious graphical upgrades over The Sims 2, a number of improvements have been made so that creating Sims is as freeform as ever. Body shape and facial structure is now even more customizable, with sliders allowing you to precisely get the Sim design you want. The Create a Style tool is also used for hair (which can now have multiple colours rather then the one), eye colour and cloths. The recent Creators Camp also provided details of a special 'Create a Twin' feature in CAS. Though this as yet to be confirmed by the developer so we can't say if it will or will not be in the retail version. 

Q. Will I still be able to control multiple families now that it all takes place in this open neighbourhood?
A. Of course you will, infact what's great is that you can now switch between families by the click of a button rather then having to wait for the neighbourhood overview to load up like in past games. You could do this in The Sims 2 though it was only for families near the lot you were currently in, now you can select a family who could have an home all the way across the town. This could also mean that storytellers could create tales that affect multiple families rather then just the one. 

Q. I loved downloading content from the community for use in The Sims 2, can I still do this in The Sims 3?
A. Indeed you can, the developers have only recently unveiled the new online features the game will get upon release. Clearly they understand that one of the overall reasons The Sims 2 was such a success lies in it's deep and creative community. So The Sims 3 launcher (launcher being like the one currently available for The Sims 2) will provide the latest pieces of news and information from the official The Sims 3 website, provide the newest items from the ever popular exchange where you'll have access to community built content and potentially also update you on new pieces of content from you favourite designers (this was discussed in a video by The Sims 3 producer Ben Bell). Of course it's also important to remember that sites like TheSimsResource and ModTheSims will also provide great content for use in the game soon after release. 

I think that'll do for now, I might get around to creating another quick Q&A round concerning The Sims 3 if I come across anymore questions that haven't been answered yet. If your a Sims fan and still confussed about any aspect of the game, then I'll do my best to answer them in a future set of questions as release draws nearer.

Credit to the two main sources of information to answer these questions to the best degree possible: The Sims 3 Official Website and The Sims 3 Wiki page. 

THE KING OF ALL LIFE SIMULATIONS RETURNS!

To be the best selling PC franchise of all time, you need to be able to tap into a market that very few games are able to. You need to be able to create a game, that will get the attention of a wider audience. An audience that might not be dedicated hardcore gamers. That's what The Sims franchise did perfectly, and the latest installment is about to hit PC's around the globe. So what is there to get excited about?

It's worth noting that I had already wrote up a preview for The Sims 3 some months back, but of course EA delayed the game to build up a better marketing campaign. The delay frustrated some, but it was understandable and gave new developers EA Redwood Shores more time to polish the title. Now we are less then a month away from it's Worldwide release, and there is quite a lot to discuss. A number of the improvements found in the latest installment, have been eagerly anticipated by fans ever since EA first unveiled The Sims 2 all those years ago. These include a open seamless neighbourhood, changes to the personality system and brand new design tools for the creative fans to enjoy. While it might not seem the great leap that The Sims 2 was over it's predecessor, the improvements are very much welcomed by most fans and some of the smaller less noticeable changes could also see the way gamers play change dramatically. 

The new seamless and load screen-less neighbourhoods will potentially make the biggest impact on Sim fans. Now gamers no longer have to suffer the boredom of loading screens as everything is seamless integrated into one large and happening town. The developers themselves have stated that this will change things dramatically, especially when one considers that time is no longer set to one specific house. As you play and your sims grow old, so does everyone else in the town. The development team have also stated that Sims living in your town will not just grow older, but will also get married, have children and take part in many other expected activities. Thankfully if you like things to be in your control, the game will also allow you to limit what town sims do. 

This change alone could make The Sims 3 a hit or miss affair. There are those that enjoy the randomness that often occurs in The Sims franchise, while there are some who enjoy being in control and seeing everything evolve through the click of the left mouse button. So while randomness could produce many interesting tales, you could also miss key parts of a certain sims life and that could frustrate some of the current Sims fanbase. Of course we will have to wait and see how that eventually turns out, though it does look promising. One other area that as seen some improvement, is in the personality system that we first saw in The Sims 2. While it provided a certain degree of customizability, it never truly provided the deeper character integration that fans were eager to see. The new system seen in The Sims 3 is quite something, you can now create unique personalities in your favourite sims. From the extremely insane and pure evil, to the scared and clumsy. The potentially most welcomed point of the new system though, comes with the ability of mixing up to five different personality traits and with up to 70 available with the original game. Well it's clear that customization is key.

One other key addition in The Sims 3, comes in the form of the much welcomed 'Create A Style' tool. This brand new tool allows create folk to have much more control over key design choices in almost everything they create. This allows for more screenshot worthy house designs and a better use of styles within the actual house. Basically allowing the creative fan to both be more creative but also provide a more unique touch of their own. I suspect any designer who enjoys The Sims franchise, Will be most eager to see what they can fully create with this new tool. There are also a few other changes in Build and Buy Mode, the old grid system found in the original Sims and it's sequel is gone. Replaced by a more direct and open layout platform that will allow house builders to be as creative as they can be. There will also be a special 'Expert' mode in B&B mode, which allows players to build even more unique looking houses without the key limitations of the normal layout grid. Some of these changes might appear small to your average gamer, but to those that find pure pleasure from designing content in The Sims. They are potentially massive improvements in there own right. 

While there is still some doubts surrounding The Sims 3, and it's debatable if this latest installment as been taken to heart by fans now that it's no longer directly developed by original developers Maxis. I believe the changes taking place are worth potential rough edges. The art design still hasn't won every fan over and even some of the smaller changes could take sometime to get use to. But there is no denying that many of the new additions are potentially refreshing and smart, with the biggest being the new seamless open neighbourhood. There is a lot of other changes I could have discussed deeper, for example the new smarter A.I systems which allow the player to enjoy the more enjoyable aspects of the game rather then helping your sim go to the toilet every couple of minutes. There have also been changed done to the job system, the way birth is handled and a reported new 'Create a Twin' feature rumoured from the Creative Camps that have been run recently. Infact it could be the smaller changes that are the most welcomed for fans, including myself.

Hopefully it will be a smooth launch for the title when it hits stores on June 2nd (NA), June 4th (Aus) and June 5th (EU). Either it could be the rebirth of The Sims franchise to a whole new generation, or it could be signs of a dying genre in games. Whatever happens, I do believe The Sims 3 offers enough unique new improvements to be worthy of it's retail price. Of course the many expansion packs are expected, but often welcomed by the huge community of dedicated (often to a scary but delightful degree) fans who I'm sure are counting the days until they can install The Sims 3 on their systems. As I said previously, there is a lot more I could have discussed, but I think this quick preview as already been long enough. So look forward to The Sims 3 from EA Redwood Shores in the coming weeks and I to will be eager to get my hands on it.
 
Thanks for Reading,
Joseph Bayliss (TrueEnglishGent)
(Twitter: JosephBayliss)