[E309] EA

I think I’ll focus on big announcements, instead of the play by play. So, here we go:

• The trailer… Oh my gosh, it looks really exciting. Taking place thousands of years before the events of Star Wars, the movies, they present us here with a huge fight between Sith and Jedi, the Sith winning. C `mon game sites, get these videos up. People need to see this!
• Star Wars: The Old Republic. The largest voice over project ever in games. Yep, The Old Republic is going to be the worlds first entirely voiced MMO. Storytelling is going to be key. It’ll be what propels The Old Republic beyond all other MMOs. (I’d love for them to be right.) New trailer!
• ABP. Realtime Worlds MMO GTA game is going to be published by EA! It looks really good for a 100 player online, open world game. The customizable character avatars have really realistic looking skin and facial features.
  The game is supposed to be a cops vs. robbers type deal. Everyone in the game is out to make a name for themselves, as the driving force. Looking forward to this. No word on release date or release platforms.
• Crysis 2. As I mentioned earlier today, it’s on CryEngine3 on 360, PC, and PS3. They’re not showing anything, but say that the game will be the benchmark for visuals across all systems.
• Brutal Legends. Wooohooo. The game from Tim Schaffer which takes inspiration from the world of rock: cover albums, the sounds, even voice talent. Schaffer takes us through some of the rock legends who are in the game, in voice and in likeness in some cases as well. Ozzy’s in the game!
• The Saboteur. They opened by showing the trailer that’s been up at a few places already. The game’s Pleasantville-esque visuals are great, in the pre-rendered trailer. The gameplay demonstration looks just as good.
  The open world game set in Nazi-era Paris has that freedom of movement that inFAMOUS has, except for the super powers. The character can wear disguises retrieved from taken out Nazis.
  Color plays into the game as part of a system called the “Will to Fight.” By taking out targets and sabotaging the Nazis, more color returns to the world.
• Grand Slam Tennis for Wii Motion Plus. Pete Sampras plays Wii! The demo of this game doesn’t seem too different from the Wii Sports Tennis demo we saw years ago. Wait for the reviews, I guess.
• EA Sports Active. It’s getting an expansion this holiday. New tropical visuals, 30 new exercises. The game is doing well.
• Madden 10 Features Online Franchise Mode. Not only can you play with 31 friends in a real NFL season, the franchise mode will also tied to PC internet and iPhone apps for trades and what not. That is truly scary.
• EA Sports Online. This is their new focus for PC. The example they’ve given is Tiger Woods that’ll be launched directly from the browser, without the need to download and install a program. Social networking is a part of this strategy as well. The next example given is TEAM BUILDER, a web tool that lets you build, completely customize your team’s look, and then import it into NCAA 10.
• EA Sports MMA. It’s under development.
• EA Sports. First up, Fight Night Round 4. It looks really good. All of the visuals and gameplay are physics driven. It’s coming out June 25th.
• Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2. They’re coming. They didn’t really reveal anything other than that. Just showed some trailers.
  Need for Speed Shift. Whoa, this looks really good. The hook is rewards for not only the people who drive really well, but people who drive really aggressively as well. Basically, different play styles will all allow for “leveling up” unlocking new cars and customization options.
  The visuals from in the cockpit are top notch. I noticed that they even start to blur the car’s instruments and dials when you start going faster, simulating a driver’s increased focus on what’s in front outside of the car at high speeds.
• Charm Girls Club. All about friends, fun, and charms. Three DS games and one for Wii. What are they about? Well, they’re playing a game where you shake the Wiimote to style hair. Think Hanna Montana target audience.
• Three New Littlest Pet Shop Games + Littlest Pet Shop Online announced. For girls, he keeps saying. Safe and fun to play online with friends. “Every little girl’s dream come true. Trailer plays. It’s coming in the fall.
• 12 Great Games for the Show. In addition to Dante’s Inferno and The Sim 3, trailers of which were just shown.