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All Articles: E3 2017
Deck Nine (formerly Idol Minds) is working on a sequel to a “critically acclaimed franchise”
Idol Minds has been operating on the edges of the game industry for over 20 years, and it’s possible that you’ve played one of their games without even realizing it.
In the late 90s, the team produced the final three entries in the Cool Boarders franchise. They also made a splash in 2007 with the release of Pain, a Jackass-like game for the PS3 that was very popular during the early days of the PlayStation Store. But Idol Minds is probably best known as the developer behind the Ratchet & Clank Collection (and Ratchet: Deadlocked HD) on the PS3.
Today, Idol Minds announced that they’re shifting their focus to “narrative-driven” adventure games, and that they’ll be known as Deck Nine Games going forward. This rebrand also coincides with the launch of StoryForge, their new development engine that helps writers, directors, and cinematic artists “focus on telling great stories.”
“With the creation of our new, proprietary toolset StoryForge and the shift in studio focus, we are removing the shackles from our creative team and bringing together our two passions; meaningful storytelling and rich gameplay,” said Jeff Litchford, Deck Nine’s Vice President.
Deck Nine plans to introduce their new identity to public at this year’s E3 Expo, and they’ve partnered with a “AAA” game publisher to unveil a “brand new addition to a critically acclaimed franchise” at the big show.
Posted in News
Tagged E3 2017, Life Is Strange: Before the Storm
Get a look at Far Cry 5’s creepy cult in the game’s first trailer
As foretold, Ubisoft fully unveiled Far Cry 5 today, and confirmed the game will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on February 27, 2018. The first trailer for the first Far Cry game set on US soil introduces us to the residents of Hope County, Montana, and the “fanatical doomsday cult” that has infiltrated the town:
As the new junior deputy of fictional Hope County, Montana, players will find that their arrival accelerates a years-long silent coup by a fanatical doomsday cult, the Project at Eden’s Gate, igniting a violent takeover of the county. Caught off guard and drawn into a power struggle, players must disrupt the carefully laid plans of the Project at Eden’s Gate and fan the fires of resistance to help liberate the Hope County community and themselves.
Taking control of unique and customizable character, players will attempt to take down the cult alongside a large cast of characters, and an even larger arsenal of vehicles and weapons:
Under siege and cut off from the rest of the world, players will join forces with residents of Hope County and form The Resistance. The fight against the cult will take players to unique locations throughout Hope County that provide different gameplay experiences. During their journey, players can fly planes to engage cult forces in aerial dogfights across Big Sky Country. While tracking down cult members and gathering resources for survival across farmland, forests, mountains, and rivers, players can get behind the wheel of iconic American muscle cars, big rigs, ATVs and boats. Vehicles also provide refuge when under attack by animals or as a way to quickly escape when things don’t go as planned.
Like previous games in the Far Cry franchise, players will have total freedom to tackle the each situation as they seen fit. But Far Cry 5 will also introduce a cooperative element for the first time, and players will be able to team up with a friend to experience the entire story together.
To further introduce players to the residents of Hope County, Ubisoft also released a series of “Character Vignette” trailers for three members of The Resistance. You can find them after the break. And we can expect to hear more about Far Cry 5 during this year’s E3 Expo. (more…)
Beyond Good & Evil 2 won’t be at E3 2017, but Ubisoft will reveal it sometime this year
Ubisoft’s Michel Ancel recently got into a discussion with some fans on Instagram, and he confirmed that Beyond Good & Evil 2 won’t make an appearance at this year’s E3 Expo. However, he added that progress is being made on the sequel to his cult action/adventure, and we should finally see it sometime this year:
Not sure that E3 would be the best place to showcase [Beyond Good & Evil 2] but we’re working on the game so sometime this year, you should hear about it!
Beyond Good & Evil 2 was first announced all the way back in 2008, and Ancel has been delivering small teases connected to the game ever since. It was officially re-announced in October of 2016, and the latest rumors say it could become a Switch exclusive.
A 2017 launch seems out of the question, but hopefully we’ll learn more about the game before the end of the year.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown delayed to 2018… but Bandai Namco is planning an E3 2017 showcase for the game
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown won’t fly onto store shelves this Fall as originally planned. According to Bandai Namco, Ace Combat 7’s launch has been pushed back to 2018 to give Franchise Director Kazutoki Kono, and his team, more time to create the best game they can.
Kono offered an explanation for the delay, and an apology to fans, on Bandai Namco’s official website:
We would have loved to launch Ace Combat 7 at the end of 2017 as we originally intended, but doing so would compromise our goal for the game. We take our art very seriously and that means we have instead chosen to devote additional time and effort to perfect and optimize this newest chapter of the Ace Combat saga.
But don’t worry, Bandai Namco has promised that we’ll learn more about Ace Combat 7 during this year’s E3 Expo. A playable demo of the aerial combat simulation will be available on the show floor for E3 attendees and the rest of the world will get to view a brand new trailer and screenshots.
Ubisoft confirms that a new Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry 5, The Crew 2 will appear at E3 2017
It’s beginning to look a lot like E3…
Ubisoft has announced plans to showcase Far Cry 5, The Crew 2, and a brand new Assassin’s Creed game at this year’s E3 Expo. However, that’s all the publisher was willing to announce, as we don’t know much of anything else about any of these games. That said, Ubisoft did give us a look at a pair of new logos for Far Cry 5 and The Crew 2.
The 2017 E3 Expo will open its doors on June 13.
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Assassin's Creed Origins, E3 2017, Far Cry 5, The Crew 2
704 Games will release NASCAR Heat 2 on September 12
704 Games has announced they will release NASCAR Heat 2 for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on September 12. In addition to confirming a release date, the publisher promised the sequel will build on last year’s game with “enhanced online multiplayer, a deeper career mode, track updates, additional drivers and other features in line with the 2017 NASCAR-sanctioned national series formats.”
“[NASCAR Heat 2] will have a very different look and an enhanced overall experience that reflects the insights of actual NASCAR drivers,” said Paul Brooks, the CEO of 704 Games. “Over the coming months, we’ll announce additional new features that we believe will really excite our fans.”
Like last year, 704 Games will use the results of an upcoming race to determine NASCAR Heat 2’s cover athlete. From now until Friday, May 19, fans can vote for the two drivers they want to see compete for the cover spot at NASCARHeat.com/CoverRace. And then on May 20, the first driver to finish Stage 2 at the Monster Energy All-Star Race will become the game’s cover athlete.
We’ll learn more about NASCAR Heat 2 during this year’s E3 Expo, as 704 Games also announced they’ll have a demo version of the game on display at the industry’s Summer showcase.
Tom Brady gets a “GOAT Edition” as the cover athlete of Madden NFL 18
Ever since he helped the New England Patriots win Super Bowl LI in February, the sports world has been debating whether or not Tom Brady is the “Greatest Of All Time” (the “GOAT”). Yesterday, EA Sports delivered their opinion on the matter by announcing that Brady would grace the cover of Madden NFL 18, as well as a special “GOAT Edition” of the game.
“The Madden NFL 18 cover is a great honor for me,” said Brady. “Especially since I have been playing the game since growing up next to EA headquarters in the Bay Area. I’m not one to believe in curses, so I’m ready to take the challenge head on like always! It doesn’t stand a chance!!!”
Madden NFL 18 is once again in development at EA Tiburon and will use EA’s proprietary Frostbite engine for the first time. According to the publisher, the Frostbite engine will provide “a significant visual leap” for the franchise.
EA Sports also unveiled the first teaser trailer for Madden NFL 18, but fans will have to wait until this year’s E3 Expo for a more in-depth look at the game. As part of this presentation, EA Sports will reveal a brand new story mode for Madden NFL 18 patterned after FIFA 17‘s The Journey.
Fans who pre-order Madden NFL 18 will receive a pair of Ultimate Team bonuses including an Elite player from their favorite NFL team and five Squad Packs. Those who opt for the GOAT Edition will also receive the “GOAT Player” of their choice for the popular mode. And in addition to these bonuses, the GOAT Edition will also feature a three-day early access period.
Madden NFL 18 will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on August 25.
Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged E3 2017, Madden NFL 18
Activision officially unveils Call of Duty: WWII with an hour-long livestream and the first trailer
After giving fans a quick tease of the game late last week, Activision and Sledgehammer Games have returned with their “Worldwide Reveal” for Call of Duty: WWII. According to the developer, the new Call of Duty will deliver “gritty realism, authenticity, and cinematic intensity on an epic scale” as players embark on an important mission in the European Theater:
Call of Duty: WWII takes the franchise back to its roots in a bold cinematic experience that captures the unforgettable heroism of the soldiers who fought together in a war that changed the world forever. Activision’s gripping new title is an honest portrayal of World War II from the perspective of the famed 1st Infantry Division, with an ensemble cast of global and diverse characters. Through stunning visuals and intense audio, players storm the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, march across France to liberate Paris and ultimately push forward into Germany in some of the most monumental battles of all-time.
Not to be outdone by its single-player campaign, Call of Duty: WWII will also include a full complement of multiplayer modes. Competitive deathmatch will be available, of course, but Sledgehammer is also adding a new cooperative narrative mode to the franchise. Known as “War,” Activision has promised to reveal more information about this facet of the game at this year’s E3 Expo. And don’t worry, the undead hordes will rise again as part of CoD: WWII’s Nazi Zombies cooperative campaign.
“The story we’re telling is unlike anything that we’ve tackled before,” said Glen Schofield, the Studio Head and Co-Founder of Sledgehammer Games. It’s such an amazing journey of common everyday people who became heroes. We want to respect this great generation of soldiers, tell a realistic story set in a true inflection point in human history, and deliver the best experience of our careers.”
Call of Duty: WWII will be released in three different configurations including a Base Edition ($59.99), a Digital Deluxe Edition ($99.99, includes Season Pass), and the Pro Edition ($99.99, includes Steelbook packaging and Season Pass). Fans who pre-order any version of the game will receive access to the pre-release Private Beta, which will be available on the PS4 first.
Call of Duty: WWII will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on November 3. The first trailer has been embedded above, and the full “Worldwide Reveal” livestream, hosted by developers from Sledgehammer, can be found after the break. (more…)