Back from E3.

SackAttack · 05-12-2006, 11:13 PM

...and my brain is a jumbled mess right now. Hands-on previews will be going up today and tomorrow.

Initial thoughts of interest for the crew here: Guitar Hero II and Civ 4: Warlords look very, very good.

Plenty of other stuff does, too, but those are for the games I see talked about most around here.

sabotai · 05-12-2006, 11:17 PM

Did you get to see anything about Spore?

duckman · 05-12-2006, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabotai

Did you get to see anything about Spore?

Yes, we need to know about this son of a bitch!

SackAttack · 05-12-2006, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabotai

Did you get to see anything about Spore?

They had that in a theater with a massive line and wouldn't expedite folks with media passes without an appointment, which I didn't have.

Spore was maybe my most anticipated title of the show, and it pained me to have to miss that, but it came down to either going hands-on with Wii, or seeing Spore, but not getting to actually play it.

I went with Wii.

Blade6119 · 05-12-2006, 11:28 PM

SackAttack · 05-12-2006, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blade6119

Wii?

Oui.

(You might know it better as Revolution.)

IwasHere · 05-13-2006, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Oui.

I thought Oui was a porn mag?

SackAttack · 05-13-2006, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IwasHere

I thought Oui was a porn mag?

I'm wondering how long it takes before some third-party publisher makes a pornographic Wii game. Considering what they could use that controller for, it's actually kind of a creepy thought.

Ragone · 05-13-2006, 01:08 AM

i've seen posted stuff about wow expansion sack.. anything else i should know?

SackAttack · 05-13-2006, 01:15 AM

Ragone,

Didn't go near the WOW expansion. I've never played the original, so I wouldn't be qualified to comment appropriately. Jason may have checked it out; I would wait to see if he does a preview.

Eaglesfan27 · 05-13-2006, 07:42 AM

Did you get a chance to check out NFL Head Coach?

Philliesfan980 · 05-13-2006, 07:51 AM

I'm starting to get more and more portable, and generally getting things cleaner (ie. LCD tv instead of the tube tv, laptop replacing my desktop). Can anyone here justify getting a PSP instead of a next gen console? I used to have a PSP (about a year ago), but the software was pretty poor. I'm hearing good things about NCAA (10 year dynasty is plenty). Will Madden PSP have any interaction with NCAA PSP this year (ie. draft classes). What about other non sports titles?

I'd love for someone to make the arguement that I would be reasonably well served getting a PSP instead of a next gen console. I already have a DS, which is awesome for nintendo first party titles, but lacks the muscle for the other stuff.

SackAttack · 05-13-2006, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Did you get a chance to check out NFL Head Coach?

Eagles, I couldn't find it on the show floor anywhere. I asked a couple of EA reps if they were demonstrating it anywhere, and they both shook their heads no.

Either they were woefully uninformed of their own company's products, or it was another one of those "You gotta have an appointment" deals, like Spore expedition.

SackAttack · 05-13-2006, 02:14 PM

Having some technical issues getting my previews to display on the front page. I don't know if that's related to our attempt to monkey with things so that previews can be placed in the prominent spot on Gamenikki, or if we've just had so few previews in the past that we've never noticed it.

Anyhow, I will keep a post in this thread updated with direct links to the previews if we can't somehow get them to display on the front page.

SackAttack · 05-13-2006, 04:08 PM

Problem is solved, and our first preview - Madden Wii - is now live.

Izulde · 05-13-2006, 04:12 PM

So you played with some guy's Wii?

And I'll check out the page a little later on. I'm glad you're putting up the previews, though.

SackAttack · 05-13-2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izulde

So you played with some guy's Wii?

Don't knock it 'less you've tried it!

Quote:

And I'll check out the page a little later on. I'm glad you're putting up the previews, though.

It's going to be slow going for a couple of days since the other guys who went with us are in the process of heading back to their native states - which means it'll be me writing and uploading for a couple of days - but yeah, we're in the process of getting everything up.

My Zelda preview is on deck, as soon as I get these screenshots uploaded.

astrosfan64 · 05-13-2006, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Don't knock it 'less you've tried it!

It's going to be slow going for a couple of days since the other guys who went with us are in the process of heading back to their native states - which means it'll be me writing and uploading for a couple of days - but yeah, we're in the process of getting everything up.

My Zelda preview is on deck, as soon as I get these screenshots uploaded.

I've always liked your content on your site, but the overall look and feel of the site is distracting. The layout is hard to follow and the different areas are hard to identify with. Just my 2 cents.

BTW nice write up on Wii Madden.

SackAttack · 05-13-2006, 08:55 PM

Previews that should be up before the end of the night:

Guitar Hero II (PS2)
Phantasy Star Universe (360)
Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories (PS2)

If I have time or the muse is cooking:

Sonic the Hedgehog (PS3/360)
Too Human (360)
Mass Effect (360)
Neverwinter Nights 2 (PC)

Eaglesfan27 · 05-14-2006, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Eagles, I couldn't find it on the show floor anywhere. I asked a couple of EA reps if they were demonstrating it anywhere, and they both shook their heads no.

Either they were woefully uninformed of their own company's products, or it was another one of those "You gotta have an appointment" deals, like Spore expedition.

Thanks for looking.

SackAttack · 05-14-2006, 01:53 AM

Disgaea 2 is up. Guitar Hero II will follow shortly, but PSU may have to slip to tomorrow morning'ish.

Ragone · 05-14-2006, 03:11 AM

phantasy star universe? is that like the online mmorpg.. or a single player rpg..

sterlingice · 05-14-2006, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragone

phantasy star universe? is that like the online mmorpg.. or a single player rpg..

In both PSO 1 and 2, there was both an offline RPG mode but also an online MMORPG component. Not sure about this one, tho.

SI

SackAttack · 05-14-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragone

phantasy star universe? is that like the online mmorpg.. or a single player rpg..

It's not an MMO. It's more like PSO1+2.

SackAttack · 05-14-2006, 01:27 PM

Guitar Hero 2 is up. The train keeps rolling.

kingnebwsu · 05-14-2006, 03:54 PM

Something I did read on PSU is that the characters you play for the single-player and the multiplayer will have to be different. They're trying to flesh out the single-player some more in this one...but if it's different characters for them then I'll probably just play online.

Hopefully they add enough levels to keep it entertaining for a long while. PSO was one of the coolest games ever

SackAttack · 05-14-2006, 11:34 PM

Ben, it seemed like the characters for single player were specific characters, whereas online are characters you create and customize and all of that.

Mota · 05-15-2006, 04:59 AM

NFL Head Coach was being demo'ed at the Xbox booth, of all places.

I spent about 30 minutes with the developer going over some stuff (and no it wasn't Joe Stallings). From looking at the gameplay, it does look as though shorter passes are much more prevalent than in Madden / NCAA. It looked much more realistic. There's a lot of input into the game as well. You call audibles, line shifts, motion, etc. You still have lots of control into the game, you don't just let it play. But once you hike the ball it's in the AI's hands. You are either calling the plays or talking to your players, so if you take too long talking to your DL about how to play the next series, or if you're trying to motivate your QB, the co-ordinators will take over the playcalling for you and the game will keep playing.

Also according to the dev the game is tuned to 5-6 minute quarters to get the most accurate results (which is a little bit strange). It's mostly because you can get to the line rather quickly if you're a fast play caller.

Draft looked interesting as well, each player's skills are measured in a range in each category ... 52-87 let's say for a QB's arm strengh rating. If he's been scouted, the range will shrink depending on how much you've watched him and the quality of your scout, it might be 65-82 instead. So there's still volatility in the scouting (as there should be), and if you did your homework on the right people it's a little bit less of a crapshoot.

SackAttack · 05-15-2006, 12:09 PM

If it was at the Games for Windows booth, that's probably why I didn't see it. EA seemed to believe it wasn't at the show at all.

05-12-2006, 11:28 PM	#5
Blade6119 Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona	Wii? __________________ *Underachievement* The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the lawnmower. *Despair* It's always darkest just before it goes pitch black. *Demotivation* Sometimes the best solution to morale problems is just to fire all of the unhappy people. http://www.despair.com/viewall.html

05-13-2006, 07:42 AM	#11
Eaglesfan27 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: New Jersey	Did you get a chance to check out NFL Head Coach? __________________ Retired GM of the eNFL 2007 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles (19-0 record.) GM of the WOOF 2006 Doggie Bowl Champion Atlantic City Gamblers. GM of the IHOF 2019 and 2022 IHOF Bowl Champion Asheville Axemen.

05-13-2006, 04:08 PM	#15
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	Problem is solved, and our first preview - Madden Wii - is now live. Last edited by SackAttack : 05-13-2006 at 04:08 PM.

05-13-2006, 04:12 PM	#16
Izulde Head Coach Join Date: Sep 2004	So you played with some guy's Wii? And I'll check out the page a little later on. I'm glad you're putting up the previews, though. __________________ 2006 Golden Scribe Nominee 2006 Golden Scribe Winner Best Non-Sport Dynasty: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) Rookie Writer of the Year Dynasty of the Year: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty)

05-12-2006, 11:17 PM	#2
sabotai General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Satellite of Love	Did you get to see anything about Spore?

05-13-2006, 01:08 AM	#9
Ragone Pro Rookie Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, Mo	i've seen posted stuff about wow expansion sack.. anything else i should know?

05-13-2006, 01:15 AM	#10
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	Ragone, Didn't go near the WOW expansion. I've never played the original, so I wouldn't be qualified to comment appropriately. Jason may have checked it out; I would wait to see if he does a preview.

05-13-2006, 07:51 AM	#12
Philliesfan980 Banned Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Exton, PA	I'm starting to get more and more portable, and generally getting things cleaner (ie. LCD tv instead of the tube tv, laptop replacing my desktop). Can anyone here justify getting a PSP instead of a next gen console? I used to have a PSP (about a year ago), but the software was pretty poor. I'm hearing good things about NCAA (10 year dynasty is plenty). Will Madden PSP have any interaction with NCAA PSP this year (ie. draft classes). What about other non sports titles? I'd love for someone to make the arguement that I would be reasonably well served getting a PSP instead of a next gen console. I already have a DS, which is awesome for nintendo first party titles, but lacks the muscle for the other stuff.

05-13-2006, 02:14 PM	#14
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	Having some technical issues getting my previews to display on the front page. I don't know if that's related to our attempt to monkey with things so that previews can be placed in the prominent spot on Gamenikki, or if we've just had so few previews in the past that we've never noticed it. Anyhow, I will keep a post in this thread updated with direct links to the previews if we can't somehow get them to display on the front page.

05-13-2006, 08:55 PM	#19
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	Previews that should be up before the end of the night: Guitar Hero II (PS2) Phantasy Star Universe (360) Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories (PS2) If I have time or the muse is cooking: Sonic the Hedgehog (PS3/360) Too Human (360) Mass Effect (360) Neverwinter Nights 2 (PC)

05-14-2006, 01:53 AM	#21
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	Disgaea 2 is up. Guitar Hero II will follow shortly, but PSU may have to slip to tomorrow morning'ish.

05-14-2006, 03:11 AM	#22
Ragone Pro Rookie Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, Mo	phantasy star universe? is that like the online mmorpg.. or a single player rpg..

05-14-2006, 01:27 PM	#25
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	Guitar Hero 2 is up. The train keeps rolling.

05-14-2006, 03:54 PM	#26
kingnebwsu College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Ohio	Something I did read on PSU is that the characters you play for the single-player and the multiplayer will have to be different. They're trying to flesh out the single-player some more in this one...but if it's different characters for them then I'll probably just play online. Hopefully they add enough levels to keep it entertaining for a long while. PSO was one of the coolest games ever

05-14-2006, 11:34 PM	#27
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	Ben, it seemed like the characters for single player were specific characters, whereas online are characters you create and customize and all of that.

05-15-2006, 04:59 AM	#28
Mota College Starter Join Date: Jan 2001	NFL Head Coach was being demo'ed at the Xbox booth, of all places. I spent about 30 minutes with the developer going over some stuff (and no it wasn't Joe Stallings). From looking at the gameplay, it does look as though shorter passes are much more prevalent than in Madden / NCAA. It looked much more realistic. There's a lot of input into the game as well. You call audibles, line shifts, motion, etc. You still have lots of control into the game, you don't just let it play. But once you hike the ball it's in the AI's hands. You are either calling the plays or talking to your players, so if you take too long talking to your DL about how to play the next series, or if you're trying to motivate your QB, the co-ordinators will take over the playcalling for you and the game will keep playing. Also according to the dev the game is tuned to 5-6 minute quarters to get the most accurate results (which is a little bit strange). It's mostly because you can get to the line rather quickly if you're a fast play caller. Draft looked interesting as well, each player's skills are measured in a range in each category ... 52-87 let's say for a QB's arm strengh rating. If he's been scouted, the range will shrink depending on how much you've watched him and the quality of your scout, it might be 65-82 instead. So there's still volatility in the scouting (as there should be), and if you did your homework on the right people it's a little bit less of a crapshoot.

05-15-2006, 12:09 PM	#29
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	If it was at the Games for Windows booth, that's probably why I didn't see it. EA seemed to believe it wasn't at the show at all.

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