Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a 'Oz Comic Con was rubbish and everyone involved should hang their heads in shame' post ... I'll leave that to everyone else who's seemingly bitching endlessly about it. Personally, I had a blast, but perhaps that's an opinion partially tainted by the fact that I spent a lot of (undisclosed) cash on a ticket in order to ensure I had said blast. Not everyone gets that opportunity, I'm afraid, so the event that was Oz Comic Con Melbourne was vastly different for many people and for many reasons.
With all that in mind, here's a few pointers of my own that I hope may both educate and entertain ... not in any particular order:
1) Plan Ahead
This is obvious. When you're inviting two of the biggest names in pop culture history (that's Patrick Stewart and Stan Lee, for those unaware types), among many other's who have a strong following of loyal fans in Australia, you really need to plan for every sort of situation. This includes training your volunteer staff to ensure everyone's on the same page and pre-determining where everyone must go and how. Some of this was done, but only to a point, and as the massive crowd grew over the course of the weekend, it was clear that Hub Productions weren't entirely clear what to do about it. Which was a shame.
Having back up plans, and enough staff to contain crowds, should be atop any list of things to do, but this problems leads to a much bigger issue that, upon reflection, would have aided this first point:
2) A Bigger Hall
Simply put, the hall wasn't big enough to accommodate for the fans, the booths and the ideas in place. Yes, three photo booths is a good idea (which I'll come back to), but when there isn't enough space as it is to fit all the other booths together, any positives are thrown out the window.
Above all else, you CANNOT HAVE BOOTHS THAT CLOSE TO AN ENTRY/EXIT! When it takes just as much time to leave an area than to enter it, you know there's a problem. A wider hall, or using the upstairs auditoriums that have been previously used by the Armageddon team, would have eliminated space issues. Now, the argument can be made that Hub may not have been able to afford it, but I doubt that. Very much.
Something I did note, however, was that the areas for presentations and talks were quite large themselves, yet most of them were half full at the best of times. Perhaps one large area for the bigger talks (such as Stan Lee's, which was overflowing), than the upstairs areas for smaller ones would have allowed for much better use of the hall itself.
3) Signs. Dear God, use SIGNS!
Getting lost within the venue seemed like an easy thing to do, especially when so many lucky patrons who DID get in probably never ventured into such an event before. The more signs around, even having fun with them like street signs pointing the way between vendors, would have cleared that up quickly. Especially when it came to the three photo booths and three presentation halls. Timetables were too small to really get a handle of what they said from a distance, and I noticed there were signs made up to display who was inside at the time, but none of them were ever used. The halls themselves, unless I missed something, didn't have any lists or numbers, or 'entry' and 'exit' signs.
4) Crowd Control
This ties into the debate that there weren't enough staff who were either a) trained up for the event or b) kept in the loop. When it came to the biggest areas, such as a Stan Lee signing area that was very much in the wrong place right opposite the indy artists who got crowded out by the long lines, this was a shambles. They did their best to contain it on Sunday, but by then the damage was done.
The fact that some lines twisted and turned around almost every direction gives you an idea of how bad this and point 2 were, working hand in hand to destroy any attempts at control over the human mass. Again, I was lucky that I had the kind of pass that allowed me to get through these lines easily enough, but I know what it's like to stand there, wasting an entire day for one autograph while the con goes on without you. It's frustrating, which leads me to:
5) Better Time Periods
This one's up for debate, but I noticed that the schedules just didn't seem to make much sense at the most of times. Whether the guests had anything to say about them is anyone's guess (I'd say probably, but who knows), but clearly this was an issue. Everyone knows who they wanted to see the most, so perhaps getting the talks out of the way first, allowing the rest of the day for photos and autographs in separate areas, away from the rest of the guests who's lines never had the same kinds of issues or time table clashes, would have been the better solution. In fact, using an entirely different hall for them would have gone a long way to fixing many of the above points I just made.
As it was, the situation wasn't aided on Sunday when both Stan and Patrick arrived much later than most people anticipated. I can forgive that, though, given many aspects of life and normality that comes with being a hero to the people. They need their space just as much as we do.
6) Better Photos
This was a hit and miss area. Three booths made sense, it's the most I've seen at a con such as this (they've used two at Supanova in the past, though curiously only one at the Perth Supanova the other weekend). However, there's a major concern with Hub's control over photo development, that reared its ugly head on the Saturday that I'm sure put the nail in the coffin of most people's enjoyment of the day.
Simply put, you CANNOT have photos developed elsewhere, then expect people to AGAIN line up in some mad cap fashion to find them. Not only does this waste even more time that most of these fans cannot afford to waste, it means that most fans don't get a chance to have their photo signed, if they're after such a thing. Having learnt that Patrick Stewart doesn't personally sign that often, getting my photo signed made sense to me. The problem was, my photo's weren't developed on time, meaning I had to return the next morning to retrieve them. Luckily for me, not a huge issue, but for those who'd only paid for a day's entry? Not cool.
The answer is clear. Having on-site photo development easily fixes this problem. Even if it means a separate room for it, away from the photo booths, that alone is far better than waiting half a day only to find they haven't arrived yet. Take a note from Supanova's book and fix this one ASAP, otherwise it'll continue to be a bane of Oz Comic Con events for years to come. Or just get a better group to take the photos, that would work too.
7) Better Presenters
It makes a ton of difference when the voice you hear at the start of a talk, or a voice over on the PA giving you can update, actually sounds interested in being there. In this case, every voice I heard sounded like someone from a back water retail store, and the presenters mainly lacked the motivation to entertain between guests.
If it's a show you're going to put on, you need the right people on the microphones. There were some positives though, like cartoons on display on the big screens, but that's little conciliation when there's no witty banter while the guests wait in silence for another question to be asked, or fans sit bored by another 'here's our rules and regulations' intro. We're not kids, we get it!
In fact, let this one go out to all event organisers. Find people who motivate and entertain, that can give as much as they get from the fans and can break up any sudden moments of silence. If I hear another 'any more questions' from the guests themselves ...
8) Don't Be Like Everyone Else
Just because you're a con, doesn't mean you have to act like all the others that came before you. Trying to stand out based on the guests you invite won't always work, as we had here. If you're going to attract fans who will not only attend the event today, but the event next year and the year after that, you're going to have to try something new and exciting to get them in the door. Barring all the above problems this con had, things like the indoor light gun battles and video game challenges by professional players was a welcome sign. But this con still felt too much like every other, and clearly there wasn't much thought put into improving or adding features that placed Oz Comic Con ahead of the pack.
It's time to mix things up. The fan's are there, the country is willing to give these cons everything they've got. Every year, we hear about bigger attendance's, records broken, bigger names as guests. But every year the con itself is much like the last. We need someone, anyone, to break up the typical agenda and say 'you know what, to hell with the rules.'
What's that? You want me to suggest something? Okay then. Start with a host, the voice of the con, someone that as soon as you hear their voice, you know to listen. He or she needs to be in as many places as possible, presenting guests and keeping people up to date, while being entertaining at the same time (as I said above).
Secondly, bring in activities. There's only so many stores you can buy things at that aren't online cheaper. Light guns are a good start, but how about stalls that feature the best Cosplay artists teaching you how to make your own costumes or jewellery, or treasure hunting events for the kids in the audience, or perhaps something that *gasp* uses the outdoors for its purpose!
Music artists would be welcome too. Generally they are either actors who sing or bands that are some kind of geek or pop culture relation, but some real music by a local band or two wouldn't go astray to sit back and be entertained by. Lord knows the halls are rather quiet towards the end of the day on Sunday, what better way to keep people within the venue and paying a little more towards something extravagant?
Finally, and I say this with the highest level of regard for every con that's happened before, but we need more local talent. Having international guests is great, for sure, but there's so many local community members who can bring along their own talents. An artists ally that features roughly the same kind of people every con isn't enough.
9) Have Humility
Hub Productions needs to quickly learn how to apologise correctly. Too many times now have they created problems for their fans without a proper 'sorry, shouldn't have done that'. It's okay to be wrong, it's no biggie if you make a mistake and own up to it without coming up with excuses or blaming outside interference. What annoys me about this past weekend is the common line 'we didn't expect so many' which, and I apologise for my language, is BULLSHIT! I said it above, I'll say it again here, PLAN AHEAD, and apologise profusely to those who either didn't have a good time or couldn't get in at all.
Above all else, have some heart. Yes, it's hard putting a show like this together, but can you imagine the kind of experiences some of these fans are having to go through? Getting crushed in lines, not getting a ticket in, missing out on meeting a childhood idol? That's a much bigger impact on anyone's life than you can imagine. I've already experienced that myself, I missed out on meeting Richard Dean Anderson a while back because they 'didn't expect so many' to turn up. *ahem* BULLSHIT!
And finally:
10) Stop Fighting
What's worse than a con not working out? Having other con organisers berate your mistakes and call you out on it. We should be a community that thrives, not three groups that are trying to out do themselves!!! If nothing else, Oz Comic Con shouldn't have existed in the first place. Hub tried to bite off more than they could chew, and it backfired. Now, having previously stated they knew what they were doing, they're getting lambasted by the other con organisers for it. But it shouldn't be like this at all, not even in the slightest.
Everyone has their differences, that's a given. But for a group to go out and try to better someone else for spite? That's just wrong, in many ways. We should be working together, to ensure both the fans and the guests are having the best times of their lives, and building up the community that we have into one of the best in the world. Instead, we have three separate groups trying to work within a country that just doesn't have the right kind of infrastructure to maintain to many different types. Supanova travels the length of Australia every year now, no doubt they are in a good place. Could you imagine, then, if Hub worked together with them to get Stan Lee and Patrick Stewart right across Australia?
We should be trying to break free of the problems of the past and looking to do something right for the fans that are, in their droves, doing all that they can to make it to these cons and to show their true colours in front of the world. I'll still be going to these cons, when I can, and I always will. But until such time as we all get along and make the best of the opportunities afforded to us, we may never be able to break free from the smaller, side story in the news headlines to the San Diego Comic Con heights of our neighbour.
1.7.12
What it means to be my kind of human...
This past weekend has been an amazing ride, full of unexpected surprises and events long dreamed of but never thought possible. But instead of me going off like a fan boy, expressing my love for heroes and so forth, I want to share something a little different.
You see, I got into a conversation earlier today that revolved around stereotypes, specifically the nerd kind. I'm quick to point out that despite my current form, I wasn't a nerd when I was young. In fact, it wasn't until I moved to Australia when I was 8 that my love pop culture began to take shape, revolving around Nintendo consoles and Star Wars.
These days, my life is all about science fiction and fantasy. Being a writer I'm surrounded by ideas, characters and stories every moment I get. I wear of tv show, movie and comic book character logos and artwork. I play video games more often than not, quoting lines from shows to friends while joking about life.
The truth is, without pop culture, my life would be very different. Though I still wouldn't like vegemite.
I do get asked some times why I spend so much money on events such as this weekend's Oz Comic Con. My answer is in two parts. A) Because you only live once and B) so why not? When the likes of Stan Lee, Patrick Stewart and Julie Benz are all within the same room at the same time, it's extremely hard to pass up the opportunity to be there with them.
But for me, it isn't just about taking photos or paying for autographs. Those are keepsakes, something I can pass down to my kids, if I'm lucky enough to meet someone willing to create such life with me. Anyway, it's the little moments I love, like sharing a joke or shaking hands, chatting about life, smiling, being a part of something special. The fact that I can take what I love and share it with the very people who helped to create it, no matter how large or small a role they played, matters to me. I don't consider the need to express my love of someone's work, however.
Everyone is the same, no matter who or what they are. We are all human beings who, in some way or another, communicate between each other. When it comes to meeting a celebrity, I don't see them the same way as most people do. If nothing else, I see them as fellow fans, of art and life, that are achieving the very same thing I hope to achieve.
I guess my point is, I treat them equally, just as I do customers at work or strangers on a train. I talk to them, not down to them or sit them high on a pedestal. Because for all the hype and stardom, they are just like me, and I'd want to be treated as a friend that people know they can talk to and trust. That's why I find it so easy to chat to anyone. No matter who you are, there's always a story to tell.
So this weekend, I got to do just that, with friends, legends and total strangers. And for all the moments spent waiting in lines, pushing through crowds and paying God knows what, there was a moment of excitement that I will never forget. I love it all, because it's made me who I am today, and I wouldn't change a thing. Excelsior!
You see, I got into a conversation earlier today that revolved around stereotypes, specifically the nerd kind. I'm quick to point out that despite my current form, I wasn't a nerd when I was young. In fact, it wasn't until I moved to Australia when I was 8 that my love pop culture began to take shape, revolving around Nintendo consoles and Star Wars.
These days, my life is all about science fiction and fantasy. Being a writer I'm surrounded by ideas, characters and stories every moment I get. I wear of tv show, movie and comic book character logos and artwork. I play video games more often than not, quoting lines from shows to friends while joking about life.
The truth is, without pop culture, my life would be very different. Though I still wouldn't like vegemite.
I do get asked some times why I spend so much money on events such as this weekend's Oz Comic Con. My answer is in two parts. A) Because you only live once and B) so why not? When the likes of Stan Lee, Patrick Stewart and Julie Benz are all within the same room at the same time, it's extremely hard to pass up the opportunity to be there with them.
But for me, it isn't just about taking photos or paying for autographs. Those are keepsakes, something I can pass down to my kids, if I'm lucky enough to meet someone willing to create such life with me. Anyway, it's the little moments I love, like sharing a joke or shaking hands, chatting about life, smiling, being a part of something special. The fact that I can take what I love and share it with the very people who helped to create it, no matter how large or small a role they played, matters to me. I don't consider the need to express my love of someone's work, however.
Everyone is the same, no matter who or what they are. We are all human beings who, in some way or another, communicate between each other. When it comes to meeting a celebrity, I don't see them the same way as most people do. If nothing else, I see them as fellow fans, of art and life, that are achieving the very same thing I hope to achieve.
I guess my point is, I treat them equally, just as I do customers at work or strangers on a train. I talk to them, not down to them or sit them high on a pedestal. Because for all the hype and stardom, they are just like me, and I'd want to be treated as a friend that people know they can talk to and trust. That's why I find it so easy to chat to anyone. No matter who you are, there's always a story to tell.
So this weekend, I got to do just that, with friends, legends and total strangers. And for all the moments spent waiting in lines, pushing through crowds and paying God knows what, there was a moment of excitement that I will never forget. I love it all, because it's made me who I am today, and I wouldn't change a thing. Excelsior!
7.6.12
10 Things E3 Did Get Wrong
1) Microsoft's Conference: Besides Halo 4 and the surprise Splinter Cell, plus a little thing called Tomb Raider, there wasn't much for Microsoft to crow about. Yes, Gears of War and Forza were there, but as teaser trailers that barely said anything (or did anything for that matter), and a bunch of tech related to Kinect that I really don't care about. Something they didn't mention that has since been confirmed is an AFL channel, since E3 was all about US sports. There's no doubt that Microsoft are holding back until next year, when the next console is finally revealed.
Also, when two non-game developers take the piss out of your own presentation in the middle of said presentation, you know it's not going as well as planned. Though credit to Matt and Trey, who easily stole the show with the best moment of the week.
2) Nintendo: Don't get me wrong, there's plenty to look forward to, but this year seems like a failure to me. What could have been a massive list of announcements, one big title after another, was nothing but a bunch of titles we already knew about and three separate conferences that went over the same stuff. Mario's there, Pikmin's back, but without Zelda, Metroid and Starfox, it felt fairly empty in terms of long term releases. There's always the chance that another Nintendo only event will occur before the Wii U launch (similar to the 3DS events last year), but for now, we'll have to continue waiting. And waiting.
3) PS Vita: The lack of announcements doesn't bode well for a handheld that's not even a year old. There's a few things there, but nothing near the support the 3DS is quickly starting to build up. Just like the good old DS vs PSP days then, I guess some things never change.
4) Call of Duty: Looks like COD is just about set to jump the shark. Perhaps a year off might do the trick, yeah?
5) Rare: So I was wrong about the return of an old favourite. Allow myself a moment to weep.
6) Kinect & Move: The two biggest things of last years E3 are almost dead in the water. Kinect only exists to serve as a tool for things that aren't gaming related, and Move is ... well ... I don't really know why it was there in the first place. Since Nintendo are taking the a few jumps away from motion control (though the Wii U still uses the Wiimotes as a secondary control option), it seems like the motion fad is just that, a fad.
7) Killer Instinct: *whimper*
8) The Big Finale: Remember the days when E3 used to end with 'oh, and one more thing', followed by a huge game no-one saw coming? Microsoft thought showing off Call of Duty Black Ops II was just that. Nintendo finished with ... well, not much of anything. At least in Sony's case, despite the fact it wasn't a surprise, The Last of Us was fun to watch. I just with E3 was more like the old days.
9) Killer Instinct: Hear that? That's my heart breaking. Again.
10) What ever happened to: The Last Guardian, Fire Emblem 3DS, Monster Hunter 3G, Uncharted 4, no new 3DS redesign (though that was always a long shot), all of the big Nintendo franchises outside of Mario. Just a short list of the stuff that wasn't there, though some were briefly mentioned in passing.
11) Killer Instinct. No really, why do this to me?
Also, when two non-game developers take the piss out of your own presentation in the middle of said presentation, you know it's not going as well as planned. Though credit to Matt and Trey, who easily stole the show with the best moment of the week.
2) Nintendo: Don't get me wrong, there's plenty to look forward to, but this year seems like a failure to me. What could have been a massive list of announcements, one big title after another, was nothing but a bunch of titles we already knew about and three separate conferences that went over the same stuff. Mario's there, Pikmin's back, but without Zelda, Metroid and Starfox, it felt fairly empty in terms of long term releases. There's always the chance that another Nintendo only event will occur before the Wii U launch (similar to the 3DS events last year), but for now, we'll have to continue waiting. And waiting.
3) PS Vita: The lack of announcements doesn't bode well for a handheld that's not even a year old. There's a few things there, but nothing near the support the 3DS is quickly starting to build up. Just like the good old DS vs PSP days then, I guess some things never change.
4) Call of Duty: Looks like COD is just about set to jump the shark. Perhaps a year off might do the trick, yeah?
5) Rare: So I was wrong about the return of an old favourite. Allow myself a moment to weep.
6) Kinect & Move: The two biggest things of last years E3 are almost dead in the water. Kinect only exists to serve as a tool for things that aren't gaming related, and Move is ... well ... I don't really know why it was there in the first place. Since Nintendo are taking the a few jumps away from motion control (though the Wii U still uses the Wiimotes as a secondary control option), it seems like the motion fad is just that, a fad.
7) Killer Instinct: *whimper*
8) The Big Finale: Remember the days when E3 used to end with 'oh, and one more thing', followed by a huge game no-one saw coming? Microsoft thought showing off Call of Duty Black Ops II was just that. Nintendo finished with ... well, not much of anything. At least in Sony's case, despite the fact it wasn't a surprise, The Last of Us was fun to watch. I just with E3 was more like the old days.
9) Killer Instinct: Hear that? That's my heart breaking. Again.
10) What ever happened to: The Last Guardian, Fire Emblem 3DS, Monster Hunter 3G, Uncharted 4, no new 3DS redesign (though that was always a long shot), all of the big Nintendo franchises outside of Mario. Just a short list of the stuff that wasn't there, though some were briefly mentioned in passing.
11) Killer Instinct. No really, why do this to me?
10 Things E3 Didn't Get Wrong
1) The 3DS: Yes, largely overshadowed by the Wii U (lack of) announcements, the 3DS still has a ton of content incoming over the coming months, none more important that New Super Mario Bros 2, Luigi's Mansion 2 and Paper Mario. Coupled with some good quality 3rd party content, the 2nd year of the 3DS looks warm and cozy.
2) Watch Dogs: Is it me, or are Ubisoft the only company in existence willing to take a risk? They dumped Rayman for Rabbids for Wii's launch, brought Rayman back in arguably the best 2D platform game ever made in Rayman Origins, redefined Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell more than once (more on that in a moment), and are now set to do the same to Assassin's Creed, a title that itself was a risk way back when. Watch Dogs is another new IP set to the same beat, trying something new. It looks polished for an early development, though we may be waiting a while, but this looks promising.
3) Beyond: I already chatted this one up in my last post, but Ellen Page could be up for an award or two if the early trailers are anything to go by. If all goes to plan, this could be huge.
4) Assassin's Creed III On the High Seas: Do I need to explain?
5) Halo 4: The last hurrah, perhaps, for the Xbox 360. Gorgeous to look at, and seemingly with plenty of new content to make it stand out from the past three (not including Reach and ODST, though both were awesome in their own right). The visual upgrade is clear as day, but it seems there will be more cut scenes and intercut storytelling than Bungie's efforts were known for. Intriguing.
6) ZombieU: The Wii U still has a ton of stuff Nintendo are yet to reveal, but again Ubisoft are in the middle of it all. Between this great looking shooter that uses the new gamepad almost perfectly, to the wonderful looking Rayman Legends, at least we can be guaranteed of some high quality produce for launch.
7) Splinter Cell: There's no Ironside involved, but the reveal trailer seems positive enough. The last two Splinter Cell titles have been largely miss more than hit, but Black List might get Sam back on track. If nothing else, seeing him in the middle of a war zone should add some spice, though why there hasn't been a Splinter Cell/Ghost Recon combined title yet I'll never know. Actually, why not have one massive Tom Clancy game with every franchise involved?
8) Star Wars 1313: I'm kinda mixed on this one though. On the one hand, it looks great, and takes the best of Uncharted and throws it into a Universe I love. On the other hand, the same 'let's get down and dirty in the Expanded Universe' concept was used in the Force Unleashed, and that didn't exactly turn out the way I hoped. Can't we just get Battlefront 3 already?
9) The Last of Us: I'm quickly becoming a Naughty Dog fan, Uncharted is a franchise I'd play for a lifetime. But having watched the most recent game play footage of their next big hit, I've got nothing but good vibes. Except for one small problem, which I've already detailed. Will it get past our ratings board?
10) The Wii U: Okay, I was bummed by the lack of really big, blow my socks off announcements. But in the end, I was always going to buy the console, and seeing anything about it in action was good enough for me. Besides, Mario in HD was a system seller without them even announcing said game. There's a few minor things to take note too, such as Bioware working on the console, Ubisoft's continued support of Nintendo, and a ton of Nintendo franchises that will no doubt find their way to the console. And Nintendoland looks kinda cool too, I must admit. The end of the year can't come soon enough.
2) Watch Dogs: Is it me, or are Ubisoft the only company in existence willing to take a risk? They dumped Rayman for Rabbids for Wii's launch, brought Rayman back in arguably the best 2D platform game ever made in Rayman Origins, redefined Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell more than once (more on that in a moment), and are now set to do the same to Assassin's Creed, a title that itself was a risk way back when. Watch Dogs is another new IP set to the same beat, trying something new. It looks polished for an early development, though we may be waiting a while, but this looks promising.
3) Beyond: I already chatted this one up in my last post, but Ellen Page could be up for an award or two if the early trailers are anything to go by. If all goes to plan, this could be huge.
4) Assassin's Creed III On the High Seas: Do I need to explain?
5) Halo 4: The last hurrah, perhaps, for the Xbox 360. Gorgeous to look at, and seemingly with plenty of new content to make it stand out from the past three (not including Reach and ODST, though both were awesome in their own right). The visual upgrade is clear as day, but it seems there will be more cut scenes and intercut storytelling than Bungie's efforts were known for. Intriguing.
6) ZombieU: The Wii U still has a ton of stuff Nintendo are yet to reveal, but again Ubisoft are in the middle of it all. Between this great looking shooter that uses the new gamepad almost perfectly, to the wonderful looking Rayman Legends, at least we can be guaranteed of some high quality produce for launch.
7) Splinter Cell: There's no Ironside involved, but the reveal trailer seems positive enough. The last two Splinter Cell titles have been largely miss more than hit, but Black List might get Sam back on track. If nothing else, seeing him in the middle of a war zone should add some spice, though why there hasn't been a Splinter Cell/Ghost Recon combined title yet I'll never know. Actually, why not have one massive Tom Clancy game with every franchise involved?
8) Star Wars 1313: I'm kinda mixed on this one though. On the one hand, it looks great, and takes the best of Uncharted and throws it into a Universe I love. On the other hand, the same 'let's get down and dirty in the Expanded Universe' concept was used in the Force Unleashed, and that didn't exactly turn out the way I hoped. Can't we just get Battlefront 3 already?
9) The Last of Us: I'm quickly becoming a Naughty Dog fan, Uncharted is a franchise I'd play for a lifetime. But having watched the most recent game play footage of their next big hit, I've got nothing but good vibes. Except for one small problem, which I've already detailed. Will it get past our ratings board?
10) The Wii U: Okay, I was bummed by the lack of really big, blow my socks off announcements. But in the end, I was always going to buy the console, and seeing anything about it in action was good enough for me. Besides, Mario in HD was a system seller without them even announcing said game. There's a few minor things to take note too, such as Bioware working on the console, Ubisoft's continued support of Nintendo, and a ton of Nintendo franchises that will no doubt find their way to the console. And Nintendoland looks kinda cool too, I must admit. The end of the year can't come soon enough.
4.6.12
E3 Day One Wrap: The Last Watch Dog Beyond the Cell
So, thankfully, not all of my predictions came true. That's a good thing, although probably not in the case of Microsoft which, besides the surprise Splinter Cell: Black List reveal, didn't show off anything I wasn't really expecting.
There's a few interesting bits to come out of day one so far that we will no doubt see more of over the coming days. Sony and Microsoft came out swinging early in their press conferences with two big titles, Halo 4 and Beyond: Two Souls. Both look impressive in their own special way, specifically Halo's audio/visual overhaul which seems to be brimming with new content, and Beyond's reconstruction of the lovely Ellen Page as its lead protagonist who has a special connection with the dead. Beyond comes from the same development studio behind Heavy Rain. By the looks of the trailer, they've learnt invaluable lessons from that title with the same high quality visuals and compelling storytelling combined with hopefully a lot more action and traditional gameplay.
Ubisoft held their own conference, as did EA, but Ubi's was more impressive thanks to a concentrated effort on the next gen. Not only were there Wii U details (Rayman Legends' 5 player mode looks fantastic), but perhaps our first glimpse at a possible PS4/Xbox 720 title in Watch Dog. I say that since the visuals looked far beyond anything a current gen console can output, and no platforms were announced after the presentation. I'd say that's a healthy dose of teasing by Ubi right there and I can't wait to see more.
Of the two major players, Microsoft dropped the ball. Instead of a focus on games, it was largely all about Kinect integration, new sports apps and Internet Explorer on Xbox 360. What games we did get were small teasers, a new Gears of War (as predicted) along with a handful of titles with little to no information on what they really are. Of the other games on show, Splinter Cell and Tomb Raider show great promise, though both are 3rd party titles, while finishing the show with COD Black Ops 2 may have sounded like a good idea at the time, but a new IP or more Halo probably would have been a better option.
Sony's presentation seemed a little stronger, thanks largely to appearances by big name players God of War and The Last of Us, which is looking more and more impressive with each new trailer. Though I'm a little concerned that the level of violence and swearing, coupled with a young girl in the middle of the fray, may lead our local Australian Ratings Board to go all 'oh no you didn't' on us and ban the game locally. If they do, consider this my resignation letter from Australian gaming. But, man, I think Beyond may just edge out Watch Dog for my game of show right now. I'll wait and see what Nintendo present first, though, just in case.
Lastly, a few things people may have missed:
* EA confirmed NBA Live will return this year, putting the nail in the coffin of the NBA Elite brand name after the debacle two years ago.
* The opening video of Sony's presentation showed off a few other titles that didn't make another appearance during the show itself, namely the already announced Sly Racoon, LittleBigPlanet Karting and ... Portal 2? Or at least, something Portal related. Will Valve will announce exclusive DLC for the PS3 Portal 2 edition? Could it just be related to the upcoming map maker? Or maybe something new entirely? Curious.
* The Vita did get a few mentions, but it seems anything beyond the typical (namely Assassin's Creed III, Call of Duty and Playstation All-Stars) will be announced outside of Sony. They did mention PSOne classics such as Final Fantasy VII though, and greater use of cross-platform play.
* Two new tech's were on show, but no new consoles. Sony announced Wonderbook, a book reading/game playing device that will bring with it new Harry Potter stories based on smaller, unknown characters and spells. Microsoft also confirmed SmartGlass that allows you to use any mobile phone, tablet or PC to interact with the Xbox 360 at home or on the road. In other words, your move Nintendo.
* Oh, and the next Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit can be unofficially be called Burnout Paradise 2. Yup, open world destructive racing that never ends unless you say so. SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!
There's a few interesting bits to come out of day one so far that we will no doubt see more of over the coming days. Sony and Microsoft came out swinging early in their press conferences with two big titles, Halo 4 and Beyond: Two Souls. Both look impressive in their own special way, specifically Halo's audio/visual overhaul which seems to be brimming with new content, and Beyond's reconstruction of the lovely Ellen Page as its lead protagonist who has a special connection with the dead. Beyond comes from the same development studio behind Heavy Rain. By the looks of the trailer, they've learnt invaluable lessons from that title with the same high quality visuals and compelling storytelling combined with hopefully a lot more action and traditional gameplay.
Ubisoft held their own conference, as did EA, but Ubi's was more impressive thanks to a concentrated effort on the next gen. Not only were there Wii U details (Rayman Legends' 5 player mode looks fantastic), but perhaps our first glimpse at a possible PS4/Xbox 720 title in Watch Dog. I say that since the visuals looked far beyond anything a current gen console can output, and no platforms were announced after the presentation. I'd say that's a healthy dose of teasing by Ubi right there and I can't wait to see more.
Of the two major players, Microsoft dropped the ball. Instead of a focus on games, it was largely all about Kinect integration, new sports apps and Internet Explorer on Xbox 360. What games we did get were small teasers, a new Gears of War (as predicted) along with a handful of titles with little to no information on what they really are. Of the other games on show, Splinter Cell and Tomb Raider show great promise, though both are 3rd party titles, while finishing the show with COD Black Ops 2 may have sounded like a good idea at the time, but a new IP or more Halo probably would have been a better option.
Sony's presentation seemed a little stronger, thanks largely to appearances by big name players God of War and The Last of Us, which is looking more and more impressive with each new trailer. Though I'm a little concerned that the level of violence and swearing, coupled with a young girl in the middle of the fray, may lead our local Australian Ratings Board to go all 'oh no you didn't' on us and ban the game locally. If they do, consider this my resignation letter from Australian gaming. But, man, I think Beyond may just edge out Watch Dog for my game of show right now. I'll wait and see what Nintendo present first, though, just in case.
Lastly, a few things people may have missed:
* EA confirmed NBA Live will return this year, putting the nail in the coffin of the NBA Elite brand name after the debacle two years ago.
* The opening video of Sony's presentation showed off a few other titles that didn't make another appearance during the show itself, namely the already announced Sly Racoon, LittleBigPlanet Karting and ... Portal 2? Or at least, something Portal related. Will Valve will announce exclusive DLC for the PS3 Portal 2 edition? Could it just be related to the upcoming map maker? Or maybe something new entirely? Curious.
* The Vita did get a few mentions, but it seems anything beyond the typical (namely Assassin's Creed III, Call of Duty and Playstation All-Stars) will be announced outside of Sony. They did mention PSOne classics such as Final Fantasy VII though, and greater use of cross-platform play.
* Two new tech's were on show, but no new consoles. Sony announced Wonderbook, a book reading/game playing device that will bring with it new Harry Potter stories based on smaller, unknown characters and spells. Microsoft also confirmed SmartGlass that allows you to use any mobile phone, tablet or PC to interact with the Xbox 360 at home or on the road. In other words, your move Nintendo.
* Oh, and the next Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit can be unofficially be called Burnout Paradise 2. Yup, open world destructive racing that never ends unless you say so. SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!
31.5.12
The 2012 E3 Predictions Post
Yup, it's nearly the time where all gamers around the world wait with baited breath for the biggest announcements they already knew about to be telecast live on the internet that isn't fast enough to stream it. It's E3 time. Time for predictions.
NINTENDO
* A Large Wii U Focus: This one is obvious. After the initial impressions from last year, Nintendo has a lot to show off if the plan is to launch in October/November this year. And with the competition looking strong, a big focus on third party launch exclusives will be the key. Hence:
* Aliens: Colonial Marines Wii U Launch Exclusive: I've got a funny feeling this might come about. The game was recently pushed back to early next year, however the press release from Sega didn't mention the launch date for the Wii U. Which leads me to consider this possibility, that Nintendo has reached out to Sega for exclusive rights for a few months before everyone else. It's always possible.
* Starfox and F-Zero Return: Here's two franchises we haven't seen much of lately, besides the recent Starfox 3DS title. I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo brought them out from the basement for the Wii U, possibly as launch titles but more than likely within the first year of the consoles life. F-Zero may also make it to 3DS.
* Zelda Exclusive for 3DS, hints at Wii U HD version: Ocarina of Time sold very well for an HD update, so the chances are Nintendo will look to re-kindling the sales success with a new iteration of the franchise. Plus, since the response to the Zelda HD demo last year went down so well, it would be criminal not to capatalise on that. At the very least, Zelda will make an appearance in some form this year.
* Full Wii U Launch Details: This one's obvious, including the full launch list of titles and possible launch dates. Expect Darksiders II and Batman: Arkham City to lead the way along with new Mario and Pikmin.
SONY
* Uncharted 4: Who better to surprise us than Nathan Drake. It's already been hinted that Naughty Dog now has two development teams, and The Last of Us is shaping up well. That'll make an appearance too, but Uncharted will no doubt turn up in some way or form.
* God of War on Vita: There's a fourth major title on the way for the PS3, but the Vita needs as many big names incoming to make it a success. Expect GoW to lead the way for Vita exclusives, along with possible iterations of Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank and Killzone.
* Media Molecule's Next: While LittleBigPlanet continues on its merry way on via kart racing and Vita spinoffs, its creator may very well show off its next exclusive PS3 title, and it won't be LBP related.
* More Vita Exclusives: Expect Square-Enix and Capcom to show its support for Sony's handheld in a big way, along with plenty more.
MICROSOFT
* Halo 4 and Gears 4 dominate: Kinect aside, these two franchises continue to keep Microsoft afloat. Without them, the Xbox would be dead in the water. Unfortunately, Kinect will still get a large piece of floor time.
* A new franchise player: Halo and GOW aside, only Forza and Fable stand as a big franchises on Xbox. Expect Microsoft to launch a new exclusive title or two in the hopes they can build their stable.
* The return of Rareware: Besides Kinect Sports, the once major powerhouse of platform gaming may finally get a chance to return to the spotlight this year. Perhaps an Xbox Live exclusive Banjo Kazooie sequel, or an entirely new character. Or better yet, the long awaited return of Killer Instinct.
* Kinect Gears of War: Possibly related to the new rumoured sequel, or a separate title, expect Kinect and GOW to come together in some fashion.
WHAT ELSE TO EXPECT:
* 2013 Line-Up: All the titles we were hoping would make it out this year that have since been pushed back to 2013, including Bioshock Infinite and Tomb Raider's reboot, will be on show and in playable form for the first time.
* Final Fantasy Versus XIII: Finally.
* Boba Fett: That rumoured Star Wars title? Yup, the bounty hunter we all love is set to return in a big way.
* Elder Scrolls MMO: More on this big spin-off from Bethesda.
WHAT NOT TO EXPECT:
* The Wii Vitality Sensor: Call this one DOA.
* Kinect Barbie Dance: Because that would just be stupid ... and yet strangely, entirely possible.
* Killer Instinct: Yeah yeah, I did mention it above, but we've been waiting for sooooooo long now, would anyone at Rare still remember how to make a game like that? Let along Microsoft bring back a franchise long since departed. We can only hope, but it's the longest of long shots.
NINTENDO
* A Large Wii U Focus: This one is obvious. After the initial impressions from last year, Nintendo has a lot to show off if the plan is to launch in October/November this year. And with the competition looking strong, a big focus on third party launch exclusives will be the key. Hence:
* Aliens: Colonial Marines Wii U Launch Exclusive: I've got a funny feeling this might come about. The game was recently pushed back to early next year, however the press release from Sega didn't mention the launch date for the Wii U. Which leads me to consider this possibility, that Nintendo has reached out to Sega for exclusive rights for a few months before everyone else. It's always possible.
* Starfox and F-Zero Return: Here's two franchises we haven't seen much of lately, besides the recent Starfox 3DS title. I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo brought them out from the basement for the Wii U, possibly as launch titles but more than likely within the first year of the consoles life. F-Zero may also make it to 3DS.
* Zelda Exclusive for 3DS, hints at Wii U HD version: Ocarina of Time sold very well for an HD update, so the chances are Nintendo will look to re-kindling the sales success with a new iteration of the franchise. Plus, since the response to the Zelda HD demo last year went down so well, it would be criminal not to capatalise on that. At the very least, Zelda will make an appearance in some form this year.
* Full Wii U Launch Details: This one's obvious, including the full launch list of titles and possible launch dates. Expect Darksiders II and Batman: Arkham City to lead the way along with new Mario and Pikmin.
SONY
* Uncharted 4: Who better to surprise us than Nathan Drake. It's already been hinted that Naughty Dog now has two development teams, and The Last of Us is shaping up well. That'll make an appearance too, but Uncharted will no doubt turn up in some way or form.
* God of War on Vita: There's a fourth major title on the way for the PS3, but the Vita needs as many big names incoming to make it a success. Expect GoW to lead the way for Vita exclusives, along with possible iterations of Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank and Killzone.
* Media Molecule's Next: While LittleBigPlanet continues on its merry way on via kart racing and Vita spinoffs, its creator may very well show off its next exclusive PS3 title, and it won't be LBP related.
* More Vita Exclusives: Expect Square-Enix and Capcom to show its support for Sony's handheld in a big way, along with plenty more.
MICROSOFT
* Halo 4 and Gears 4 dominate: Kinect aside, these two franchises continue to keep Microsoft afloat. Without them, the Xbox would be dead in the water. Unfortunately, Kinect will still get a large piece of floor time.
* A new franchise player: Halo and GOW aside, only Forza and Fable stand as a big franchises on Xbox. Expect Microsoft to launch a new exclusive title or two in the hopes they can build their stable.
* The return of Rareware: Besides Kinect Sports, the once major powerhouse of platform gaming may finally get a chance to return to the spotlight this year. Perhaps an Xbox Live exclusive Banjo Kazooie sequel, or an entirely new character. Or better yet, the long awaited return of Killer Instinct.
* Kinect Gears of War: Possibly related to the new rumoured sequel, or a separate title, expect Kinect and GOW to come together in some fashion.
WHAT ELSE TO EXPECT:
* 2013 Line-Up: All the titles we were hoping would make it out this year that have since been pushed back to 2013, including Bioshock Infinite and Tomb Raider's reboot, will be on show and in playable form for the first time.
* Final Fantasy Versus XIII: Finally.
* Boba Fett: That rumoured Star Wars title? Yup, the bounty hunter we all love is set to return in a big way.
* Elder Scrolls MMO: More on this big spin-off from Bethesda.
WHAT NOT TO EXPECT:
* The Wii Vitality Sensor: Call this one DOA.
* Kinect Barbie Dance: Because that would just be stupid ... and yet strangely, entirely possible.
* Killer Instinct: Yeah yeah, I did mention it above, but we've been waiting for sooooooo long now, would anyone at Rare still remember how to make a game like that? Let along Microsoft bring back a franchise long since departed. We can only hope, but it's the longest of long shots.
11.5.12
Perhaps
It's been a while since I posted. I've been putting the time into my exegesis, trying to get it done on time.
It's not easy, writing something so technical and one dimensional. I'm quickly learning that even if I got the right result, phd just isn't for me. It's not that I couldn't try, what I've done so far is far more than I originally anticipated, and that's all from trying. I needed to know how hard I could push myself, how far I could go. I think, now, I've figured it out.
So perhaps I won't get as high a mark as I hoped for the work that I'm doing now. Perhaps I won't get anywhere near that at all. But that's not the point. I've learnt all I can now. I have to start putting it onto paper. Just not poems either. I have a book to finish, more than one if I get the chance.
Hopefully, one day, I'll get the chance to make something of all of this. It's going to happen, eventually. I know they say it's bad to ask for a little good luck, that luck isn't what's required from life, but hey, can't hurt right? Just a little?
Besides, I'll be thirty in just over a month. God still hands out birthday presents, doesn't he?
It's not easy, writing something so technical and one dimensional. I'm quickly learning that even if I got the right result, phd just isn't for me. It's not that I couldn't try, what I've done so far is far more than I originally anticipated, and that's all from trying. I needed to know how hard I could push myself, how far I could go. I think, now, I've figured it out.
So perhaps I won't get as high a mark as I hoped for the work that I'm doing now. Perhaps I won't get anywhere near that at all. But that's not the point. I've learnt all I can now. I have to start putting it onto paper. Just not poems either. I have a book to finish, more than one if I get the chance.
Hopefully, one day, I'll get the chance to make something of all of this. It's going to happen, eventually. I know they say it's bad to ask for a little good luck, that luck isn't what's required from life, but hey, can't hurt right? Just a little?
Besides, I'll be thirty in just over a month. God still hands out birthday presents, doesn't he?
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