1. Playstation 4 On The Rise Already
2. Microsoft Licensing Xbox360 For Set-Top Boxes
3. Assassins Creed II Review – 9/10 (Great Game)
4. Special Interview With HipHopGamer
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PAST EPISODE OF COUNTERPOINT FEATURING JAY MICHAELS AND FRANKIE VITURELLO OF DIGITPRESS.COM
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Here’s something a little different for you guys. While I, as a writer on the site, like sharing news with you guys as soon as I get it and like writing about my ideas on the business/marketing side of the industry. Sometimes it may be lost that I’m a fan of games just like you guys and play them alot (probably too much).
So I was sitting around tonight thinking about E3 and all the games that were going to be shown. Thinking about this E3 makes me sick, but of course in a good way. Compared to last year the amount of quality and depth that’s coming software-wise is crazy, and gonna make my wallet a very sad place next Fall. I started tinkering around with some of my video software (which I never do) and put together the video you see above of the five games I can’t wait to see at next weeks E3.
Well hopefully you guys find some brief enjoyment out of the video and if not then at least you get an idea on what one of these mystery writers on the hiphopgamer site is looking forward to. Hopefully this goes over better than the ridiculous and over the top sketch of the hipop white boy.
Well here’s some of my thoughts on the games, just as a fan and not a writer attending the event next week:
(NOTE: Both the videos and the list only reflect my thoughts and not those of the site as a whole)
Final Fantasy XIII:
Fans of Final Fantasy, I feel for you. The series made famous by Hironubo Sakaguchi and Squaresoft has had a very bad dry spell the past 6 years under the direction of Square-Enix and Yoichi Wada. Final Fantasy is personally my favorite gaming series. It’s probably the first series of games I got addicted to and just enjoyed every second of. The music, the visuals, the story, and the great RPG gameplay were just amazing. Unfortunately, XI and XII weren’t exactly what I was expecting and disappointed. While that may not be your opinion, I think we can all agree on that XIII has taken much longer that it should have to be released. The game has been in development since 2004 and was revealed in 2006. The fact that this game will take half a decade to complete along with a multiple month wait for Western fans is ridiculous.
Even with all this aggervation, the game still holds a special place in my heart and the trailers/articles released to the public have done nothing but impress me so far. Just release it already!
Modern Warfare 2:
I’ve played first person shooters before and enjoyed them, but COD4 did something to me. It made my love for the genre reach another level. I was actually one of those guys who played games like Halo for the story, and not the multiplayer. That all changed with COD4. I started playing for hours at a time and had no idea why. The game was just mindless fun, and the levels are still some of the most memorable I’ve played. The guns, the feel, the aesthetic of an Infinity Ward game is just something special. I stopped playing for a while to play WaW and I gotta say that when I fired up COD4 again, it almost brought back that warm nostalgic feeling you get when your reminded of good times.
I expect Modern Warfare 2 to have a great single player campaign with a large amount of memroable missions, and I expect online to be one of the best expierences avaialble to gamers.
Uncharted 2:
I’m actually playing the original as I’m writing this, which either shows that I really love games or that I need to do two things at once to keep my attention span up.
Basically, the first one was great and the second one looks even better. From what we’ve soon, it looks like they have improved on every single aspect of the game. As we all know the graphics look top notch, the animations look to be the best in the industry, the gameplay looks great, and multiplayer/co-op.
Do I really need to say more about this game?
God of War III:
Now this is going to piss people off. I know it, because after dealing with N4G the past couple of months, I know the internet. I have actually not played the first two God of War’s just yet. I know, I know fans of the HHG site are in a uproar. Actually, I’m buying a PS2 (since Sony is run by aholes who got rid of backwards compatibility) so I can play those two games along with some of my other favorite Ps2 games.
Basically I dont have much to say on the series because I have yet to play it, but the trailers released so far have looked great and according to everyone I know the games are great, so how can I not help but be intrigued. I really want to see how the developers push the hardware not visually but technically.
Mass Effect 2
I’m a big RPG guy, and the original is in my opinion probably the best RPG this gen and one of the best ever. It’s a space epic where your in control. I really like how BioWare is letting you carry over your Shepard to the next game along with the story you helped decide. The gameplay was fun, but some tweaks were needed (cover system/weapon balance) and it looks like they’ve improved it. The story looks darker which is nice.
And I mean really, did you think they were actually going to kill of Shepard? Come on…
So yeah guys I hope that was a nice change of pace from me, and I hope the video was halfway decent.
New Metal Gear Reveal
Since the new Kojima teaser site went up a week ago, people have been buzzing about what the game could possibly be. Is it a new Metal Gear or is it a new IP? Well, while it would be great to see what Kojima could do on a new franchise, it would also be great to see him continue one of the all-time great franchises in the industry. Metal Gear Solid 4 was a all-time great game, and with a very good engine and story in place it would be fun to see where he takes the franchises. While he wants to start something new, he could still do that in the Metal Gear universe with a new protagonist. While a Kojima game would be great, a Metal Gear Solid would really bring a already strong E3 to another level.
Final Fantasy XIII Western Release Date
While I try to be somewhat professional when I write these things I’m going to sound like a angry message board fanboy in this rant. Seriously, Square Enix if you don’t reveal a general idea on when this game is coming out in the West, at America’s biggest gaming convention, then you guys have really dropped the ball. With recent reports coming out saying that Square Enixs CEO said that only god knows when FFXIII is coming out in Japan, it only makes Western fans of the franchise more depressed. We didn’t get a demo with Final Fantasy Advent Children Complete and really the West hasn’t gotten any major love from the game since you guys since the revealed it. It’s been in development for over 5 years, give us a damn bone!
Star Wars: The Old Republic On Consoles
Knights of The Old Republic was one of the few bright spots in the original Xbox’s game library. Many consider it to be one of the best RPG’s of all-time and easily the best Star Wars game released. With The Old Republic only being currently announced on the PC, it would be nice for EA and BioWare to show love to the console owners by bringing the future MMO-hit to the consoles. Even if it is just the 360, it would really be appreciated by those who enjoyed the first two Knights of the Old Republic games. It would also be a great starting point for MMO’s to consoles in a major game. It could really be just as revolutionary as the original KOTOR games were.
More Info on L.A. Noire
The game which was previously confirmed for a 2009-fiscal year release, has had no new trailer or info since it’s reveal a few years back. The game’s premise seems great, and it would be really interesting to see where this franchise is currently at. Will they hold the game back with Mafia II coming out later this year, and both games being open world and set in the same time period? Is it still exclusive to the PS3? And will we ever see any gameplay? Hopefully some of these questions will be answered at E3.
Halo 3: ODST Proves Itself
With no in-game footage on ODST being revealed to the public just yet, this game really hasn’t had the chance to wow critics and fans alike. E3 will be the grand reveal of the game, and probably the crown jewel of the Microsoft press conference. A Lot of time and effort will be spent on giving this Halo the proper love and care that it deserves. Bungie is not known for making bad games, and since they have been criticised for making a “glorified” expansion, they have a reason to prove people wrong. With a new protagonist, and gameplay opportunities in ODST, expect a lot of pleasantly good surprises from E3 and Halo.
Gamers need to realize that when Final Fantasy XIII was announced, last year, as a multiplatform title, the subliminal message that was sent by Microsoft due to that announcement was quite clear. Regardless of whether or not gamers would actually admit it, the undeniable fact remains that such an announcement is destined to create a paradigm shift in the way people view Microsoft forever.
If you pay close attention to the Square-Microsoft relationship and its progression, you would begin to notice a pattern materializing before your very eyes. The pattern is more like water testing. Let me explain, if you are at a lake, and you suddenly feel the need to swim, your first thought would not be to jump in; the first thing you would normally do is test the water temperature; if it’s too cold and you are still feeling the urge to jump in, then you would need to slowly and gradually immerse yourself, in order to avoid jolting your system with a sudden temperature shift, until you are completely immersed in water; only at that point will you be able to swim freely and enjoy the experience. That is exactly what Square Enix has done.
If you notice the gradual story progression of the Square-developed titles for the Xbox 360, you would easily be able to predict where things are going. In April of 2006, they released Final Fantasy XI Online, a title that was released, over two years ago, on both the PS2 and PC, and was therefore, nothing more than a port of a title that Square has already profited from. In July of 2007, they released Project Sylpheed, a third-person space shooter from a genre that is not one of Square’s strong points.
In September of 2008, they released Infinite Undiscovery, a JRPG title developed by tri-Ace, one of Square’s most important second-party developers. In November of 2008, they released The Last Remnant, a JRPG title, developed by Square’s internal studio, that was initially announced as a multiplatform title, but was suddenly released as an Xbox 360 exclusive. Finally, after being fully immersed in the Xbox 360 waters, in February of 2009, they released Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope, a JRPG title, developed by tri-Ace, that was a sequel to one of Square’s biggest first-party franchises, exclusively on Microsoft’s console!
If we also add the fact that, at E3 08, Square-Enix announced Final Fantasy XIII as a multiplatform title, and the fact that Front Mission Evolved has been recently announced for the Xbox 360, it would be quite clear to us where things are going. Therefore, it is my belief that in 2009, one or more of the following predictions will surely be realized:
1. Final Fantasy XIII will finally be announced for the Xbox 360 in Japan.
2. Final Fantasy Versus XIII will finally be announced as a multiplatform title.
3. Kingdom Hearts 3 will be announced as an Xbox 360 exclusive!
To any gamer that developed an embolism from my last prediction, may you rest in peace.
God Bless You All
Master Samo
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When major events like E3 come around, people want certain things, but look at logic and facts to figure that some of them may not come to fruition. Most of these highly anticipated announcments are actually what the fans want, but were a patient bunch so we will gladly wait until the stars align and look like an announcment is right around the corner. Well, what are five things that gamers really would like to see at this E3, but will probably not be shown. Here’s the list:
Kingdom Hearts 3
Besides Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts is probably Square Enix’s most beloved franchise. For some reason mixing Final Fantasy characters, with Disney characters, and action-RPG gameplay works perfectly together. While info on the portable Kingdom Hearts will likely be shown at E3, don’t expect much on the home console front. With the Kingdom Hearts team and creative director trucking away with on Final Fantasy Versus XIII, they don’t have the time or resource to announce or start another project.
New Zelda on the Wii
Last year Miyamoto announced to reporters at E3 that the Zelda team and the Mario team are hard at work, and while both teams are probably working hard on home console games don’t expect a reveal of both games at this E3. With Spirit Tracks coming this Fall for the Nintendo DS, they wont reveal Zelda just yet.
Final Fantasy Versus XIII Info
While Square Enix will likely show off info on Final Fantasy XIII at E3 don’t expect much on the Versus front until TGS. Square Enix is known to be very hush hush on their titles, and with Versus looking like a 2011 release in the West. They will most likely focus all their attention on XIII, to create some positive buzz over here on the game.
David Jaffe’s New Game
Most of you guys know and either love or hate David Jaffe. He is the developer that speaks his mind, and is usually very honest with both fans and journalists. Most are hoping that he will reveal his game at E3, but he has said multiple times on his blog and during interviews that the game will not be shown at E3. Now call me naive, but I’m going to take Jaffe at face value and believe what he’s got to say. Don’t expect a big reveal from Jaffe and his team until the Fall.
Halo Chronicles
This is most likely to happen out of all of them, but it is probably not going to happen. Halo fans are going to get their Halo-fix with ODST, so most likely they will save news on Peter Jackson’s new project till another date. While it would be smart to blow people away with a massive-new Halo expierence, it seems likely Microsoft will focus on other franchises, and blow up ODST to get people excited.
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Music in video games are just as important as story and graphics. Without a great soundtrack, it’s hard for a game to suck a player into the world. Music helps convey emotions that graphics and story cannot convey. Think of some of your favorite games, and now think about the games soundtrack. Nine out of ten times the better games have great oundtracks.
Luckily for the video game industry some of the better modern day composers work on games. It’s time to pay some respect for those who help make games that much better through sound. Without further adieu, here are the top five video game composers:
5. Marty O’Donnell
Most Known For: Halo Series
The man’s music has graced quite possibly the most popular game in video games right now. His music in these games have been nothing but amazing. He creates a feeling that you are in a epic battle, and that there is hope you will succeed. His music is more important to Halo than the graphics, and if you don’t believe that then play Halo on mute. He knows how to perfectly make you feel like you are Master Chief and that you are Earth’s last hope. You feel like a badass when his tunes come on.
Most Popular Song:
4. Yoko Shimomura
Most Known For: Kingdom Hearts Series, Mario RPG Series, Street Fighter 2, etc.
Being a female composer she brings something that most other male composers cannot. Her music sticks with you, and not in a way where you are humming the songs. Her songs make you feel something. The music is deep and sophisticated, but can still be light hearted. Basically, when her music starts up the listener pays attention. She has done a great job on all her works, and her next game, Final Fantasy XIII Versus, looks to continue the trend.
Most Popular Song:
Other Popular Songs:
Final Fantasy Versus XIII Theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0c8B97gfnw
3. Harry Gregson-Williams
Most Known For: Metal Gear Solid Series
Gregson-Williams is a brilliant composer, and probably one of the most well known composers in the gaming industry. His work does not only stay in the video game industry (he has worked on major motion pictures), but the impact he has had on the gaming world has been big. His music in the Metal Gear Solid series has been praised ever since he began working on them with Metal Gear Solid 2. He makes you feel the emotion of the games before you even get into the story. This is clearly evident in his composition on MGS4, Old Snake Theme.
Most Popular Song:
2. Koji Kondo
Most Known For: Mario Series, Zelda Series, Etc.
The man is responsible for the most catchy and known tune in video game history, the Mario Theme. The way Miyamoto is a revolutionary at game design the same can be said for Kondo when it comes to music. Without Kondo, Miyamoto’s games would have been good but not nearly as great as they are today. Kondo’s songs get stuck in your head hours after you finish playing them, and you can’t stop humming them. He was very important in the rise of Nintendo.
Most Popular Song:
Other Popular Songs:
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Intro Theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y88M-AQztl0
1. Nobuo Uematsu
Most Known For: Final Fantasy Series, Lost Odyssey, etc.
Uematsu is the man when it comes to game soundtracks. He blends so many different styles together to create a wide range of emotions for whatever the scene is trying to convey. Many people who have played Final Fantasy games in the past have said that whenever they hear a Uematsu song, they get reminded of the game it was for. It brings them back to the time. Songs like “One Winged Angel” from Final Fantasy VII are songs that convey more emotion than some other games entire story. For years he created a wide variety of soundtracks at a high level. His music has shaped and changed the video game soundtrack industry. His music touches the soul when you listen to them.
Most Popular Song:
Other Popular Songs:
Lost Odyssey Main Theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNa1W9cj8NA
To Zanarkand (FFX):
Since the days of the SNES, Squaresoft and Enix have been putting out some of the most memorable JRPG’s in gaming history. Since 2001, these companies have merged into one gaming force, Square Enix, unfortunately for their games, the quality hasn’t survived the transition.
What happened?
Their past games include the Final Fantasy series, the Chrono series, the Dragon Quest series, the Star Ocean series, and more. Games like Final Fantasy VII and Chrono Trigger are the epitome of RPG success. They are what JRPG fans want when it comes to the cream of the crop.
Though since the merger and since Square Enix got rid of Final Fantasy creator Hironubo Sakaguchi, their games have not had anywhere near the success of their SNES and Playstation 1 games.
Quality has been dropping since Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X is considered by many to be one of the best Final Fantasy games and JRPG’s in gaming history, but since then Square Enix has slowly but surely gotten worse with each game. This is very evident in how they’ve handled their biggest franchise, Final Fantasy. Final Fantasy X-2, Final Fantasy XI, and Final Fantasy XII is easily the worst run in the franchises history. All the games have been been clouded in mediocrity, and many fans are getting fed up with this.
It’s gotten even worse this generation
Infinite Undiscovery, Star Ocean 4, and The Last Remnant were all released within the last year, and all of them were mediocre at best. None of these games pushed the JRPG-genre like their games in the past. Some blame this to Square Enix being “greedy” and releasing games on consoles that they are unfamiliar to. They have yet to release a PS3 Square Enix game this generation, and have yet to release the next-gen Final Fantasy.
They continue to push out PSP games and games for consoles such as the Wii/360. All the 360 games have been mediocre, the Wii games are either ports or crappy 2nd hand games, and while the PSP games are decent most would like to have games like Crisis Core and Dissidia on a home console.
Ever since Sakaguchi and Uematsu left…
Squre Enix games have not felt the same. Even Lost Odyssey felt more like an old-school classic Squaresoft/Enix game than the stuff Square Enix has produced the past couple of years. They are putting out products to make money, and not to create great games. This is obvious in how they’ve changed their buisness strategies over time.
Hopefully with Final Fantasy XIII being a year away they can change their current trend and turn it around. Gamers also have Final Fantasy XIII Versus and a new Kingdom Hearts to look forward to in the future. Hopefully they stop ignoring what made them great, and worry about making great games, and not just broadening their audience.