Developers from the East and the West sides of the planet tend to be two negative sides to a magnet. Neither can really get a hold in the other’s market place, with few exceptions.
So how about this for a universe-breaker: Square-Enix is taking a traditionally Japanese franchise, completely changing the genre to appeal to western audience, and going as far as working with a western developer to make sure the job is done right.
Short of a teaser trailer, and some basic details people have gotten from previous games in the Front Mission franchise, there wasn’t much going around. All we knew for sure was that this was supposed to be a much different game from previous entries, and western developers Double Helix would be working with Square-Enix on its creation.
We sent our man, Alex Donaldson, to get more information from E3, and he delivered in style. Below is his report on a small conference between himself and representatives from Square Enix and Double Helix.
Representing Square Enix is producer Shinji Hashimoto, and representing Double Helix is development director Jeremy Lee.
Disclaimer: This views expressed in this article are those of the writer, and do not reflect the general opinions of The Gaming Vault or its staff, so take it as is.
Why do we still have E3?
Three years ago it was announced that 2006’s E3 event would be the last event of its kind in the gaming industry. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) decided that booths, booth babes, massive press conferences from everybody and a yearly takeover of the LA Convention Centre was not worth the time, effort and money to run anymore.
To be fair to the ESA, they had good intentions. E3 was originally set up to give some credence to the emerging industry as it was in 1995. By 2006, the games industry was one of the major economic earners in entertainment, and easy access to information via the internet had began to render the show a bit of an expensive, moot, point.
Peter Molyneux has just announced in a personal message at E3 that he has been promoted to creative director of the European studio branches of Microsoft Games Studios. He will still continue to oversee Lionhead Studios.
Molyneux already assumed the role as far back as March, apparently.
“What you’re not going to see is ten Peter Molyneux games,” he said. “The value of this role is for someone like myself going in and making those little tiny lights of an idea shine as brightly as possible and ensuring everybody within the organization clearly understands why we’re making those titles, the purpose of those titles and their importance to Microsoft overall.”
“All I’m going to be doing is making sure those lights are as bright as possible. People at Rare and other European studios are super, super bright and creative people and I’ll learn as much about design from them as they would from me.”
Congrats, Peter. It couldn’t have gone to a better man.
This just in from the Square Enix press conference.
Square Enix has just stated that while Final Fantasy XIV will be exclusive to PS3 and PC right now, the game is “being considered” for other formats. We can only assume that this means the game may appear on the Xbox 360 based on its success.
Although it has been confirmed to be an MMORPG like Final Fantasy XI, it will have no direct connection with that game and will be set in a new world and setting of its own.
The game will be a more casual gaming experience than the famously hardcore Final Fantasy XI, looking to draw consumers into an enjoyable experience instead of isolating new players from the game.
Team Ico main-man Fumito Ueda discussed with IGN today some of the basic mechanics behind the recently announced The Last Guardian title.
Interacting with the eagle appears to be one of the central aspects to the game. You’re free to touch the eagle whenever you like. Its reactions will differ depending on where you touch it.
There’s a care aspect for the eagle as well. You can feed the eagle and remove spears and arrows that have pierced it. Ueda feels that the development staff will have to take care to strike a balance and make sure the care aspects do not becoming a chore.
Yes, apparently that’s an eagle.
Miss the Ubisoft E3 2009 conference? Never fear, we have a recording of the Microsoft conference below as well, for you to watch, courtesy of GameSpot.
Highlights included… oh come on, It’s Ubisoft! Do you even need to ask?
A word of warning for the Beyond Good and Evil fans though, you’ll be disappointed if you were hoping to see something from the game at this year’s event. Sorry to break your hearts…
Holy crap, now that was a megaton.
Final Fantasy XIV was just announced at Sony’s E3 conference, and Sony is claiming that it will be a PlayStation 3 exclusive! Apparently, it will be an MMORPG.
You heard it here first!
Sony just announced that Gran Truismo PSP will land on store shelves October 1.
Gran Turismo PSP has over 800 cars, and 35 tracks to race on.
Yamauichi emphasizes that it’s not a shrunken down version of Gran Turismo, but a complete game in it’s own right. Cars will be tradeable and shareable between friends.
Not too shabby at all, eh?
Just look below to access our live Sony conference news feed from E3 2009. We’ll be going live around 6:20pm GMT!
Cammie Dunaway has just announced New Super Mario Bros. Wii. It is essentially the DS game for the Wii, with four player multi-player included.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii is coming this holiday 2009.
Colour me unimpressed.
Any self respecting child of the 80’s and 90’s has to love them some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Whether it’s the comic or the animated series that tickles your fancy, the turtles have always been awesome at what they do best: being ninjas and kung-fu fighting.
Co-developed by Team Ninja and Game Arts, TMNT: Smash Up brings TMNT characters into an all out brawl with each other, in various urban and not so urban environments. From the gameplay video it takes obvious inspiration from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which Game Arts worked on, but also features environmental hazards as well as voice acting.
Confirmed characters in addition to the turtles so far include Shredder, Master Splinter and April O’Neill. I wouldn’t be surprised if Karai and Casey Jones make appearances as well.
Miss Microsoft’s E3 conference? Never fear, we have a recording of the Microsoft conference below as well, for you to watch, courtesy of GameSpot.
Highlights included… well… take your pick!
Miss Electronic Arts live E3 conference? Never fear, we have a recording of the conference below for you to watch, courtesy of GameSpot.
Highlights included Dante’s Inferno, Dragon Age, Mass Effect 2, Fight Night Round 4, a new martial arts fighting game called EA MMA, Grand Slam Tennis, The Saboteur and the first ever cinematic trailer for BioWare’s epic MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic.
It’s pretty much exactly what you’d expect from an Assassin’s Creed 2 trailer, to be honest, and there’s no gameplay footage, but it still looks really sweet!
Enjoy!
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