E3 Gametrailers Walkthrough video: Rift: Planes of Telara

Here's a Gametrailers video of a walk-through in the MMORPG Rift: Planes of Telara:

Right now it's looking to be a World of Warcraft inspired clone with better graphics and scaled dungeon instances. What really does intrigue me is the random, dynamic rift events that happen around the world of Telera and your job is to push them back.


That sounds like it could be awesome.

E3 Gametrailers Hunted: The Demon's Forge interview

Gametrailers has an interview with one inXile president Matt Findley on Hunted: Demon's Forge:

Honestly, the game doesn't seem to be anywhere near "Dungeon-crawly". Where are the items and gear that you pick up in dungeon crawling? Is it just the burly warrior and elf vixen all that they have? You can't wield a variety of weapons in the game? It kind of feels like this is going to be one generic, linear hack-and-slash.

Tera Online E3 trailer

Here is the E3 trailer for the action-MMORPG hybrid Tera Online:






This "action" MMORPG is starting to look like it would be awesome and fun to play.

Gametrailers E3 Deus Ex: Human Revolution interview

Gametrailers an interview with the game's director:

So, it's a reboot instead of a sequel? Interesting.

Joystiq Dungeon Siege 3 preview

Joystiq has a preview of Dungeon Siege 3, which oddly is being published by Square-Enix and developed by Obsidian Studios; the game is taking a somewhat different route with the gameplay:

As someone who's predominately a console gamer, I wasn't particularly familiar with the Dungeon Siege franchise before I sat down for a peek at the third iteration deep within the recesses of Square-Enix's E3 booth. I knew it owed a lot to Diablo, but little else. Within the first seconds of seeing Dungeon Siege III, however, I knew that Obsidian's new take on the series had been designed with someone like me in mind.

The most obvious cue? The perspective, which has gone from the zoomed out view the series is most associated with, to a more traditional third-person action perspective right over the shoulder. The classic view is still available with just a button press, but most of the demo I saw zooms in tight on the lead character.

The message is pretty clear: This is the new face of Dungeon Siege, and it's doing its darndest to win me over.

Despite the change of perspective in gameplay, I'm hoping that controlling a party is still in the game, because that is what made the series different from any other hack-and-slash games. That, and hot red-headed farmgirls with swords.

E3 2010: Gothic 4: Arcania

Here is a E3 2010 trailer of Gothic 4: Arcania:






There is also a Gamespot interview with Brian Cook from Dreamcatcher Interactive to talk about Arcania:

As long as they keep the free-roaming, action-consequence based gameplay and faction-alignment from the previous Gothic games, then I look forward for the release date. What scares me a little is that the game is also developed for consoles and might suffer as a port.

GamerTell: E3 2010 Warhammer 40K: Dark Millenium Online screenshots and trailers coverage

Jonathon Gronli from GamerTell covered the Warhammer 40K MMO:

Vigil Games’ Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online had screenshots and a trailer made their debut this E3. Sure, not much in the way of details have been given yet. More details (in terms of the gameplay, playable classes and races, etc.) should start coming out by GamesCon. This is according to Vigil’s website.

If the screenshots and the trailer have anything to tell us, dear god. It looks like the iconic look and the mood of the game is done perfectly for one of the first times outside of strategy games. I know what some fans of the franchise are going to be wondering so Vigil, I’m going to throw this out there. Hopefully Tau, Necrons and Tyranids are also incorporated into the game. They’re hard to really capture in terms of gameplay, yes. However, they are just as integral to the franchise as the Imperium (Guard, Inquisition, Space Marines, etc), the Eldar, Chaos (daemons and Chaos Marines) and the Orks. Also to Vigil and THQ, from what was shown, kudos at putting together something this appealing.

I'm still a little skeptical on how they are going to pull this off, but if I can actually pilot a Titan... HOLY COW.


Here is the trailer for Warhammer 40K Dark Millenium Online:

Dragon Age DLC: Leliana's Song

Bioware has an incoming DLC for Dragon Age:

Assume the role of Leliana, a young bard involved in a criminal ring that deals in political secrets. Accompanying her mentor Marjolaine on a high-risk mission, Leliana soon finds herself entangled in a game of intrigue that she cannot escape with just her beauty, charm, or stealth. The only way out of this game is to kill or be killed.

Features:

• Explore Leliana's dangerous past and why she joined the Chantry
• Fully voiced cinematic experience brings the characters to life
• Unlock a unique reward that transfers into your Awakening and Origins campaign

Having to pay more for a complete game makes me a humbug, at least Bioware is fleshing out their characters. Then again, Darth Vader was cool and intimidating until prequels took that away.

Darth Hater: E3 Interview - Bioware developer Daniel Erickson

Darth Hater interviewed Bioware developer Daniel Erickson on the companion system, player-character starships, and using companions in party groups in Star Wars: The Old Republic.




Based on what I hearing so far, this is sounding a whole lot better than Star Wars Galaxies.

E3 Footage: Disciples III

Here is some Gametrailers footage for Disciples 3:

Video Games | Disciples III | E3 2010: Gameplay Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

What I can determine based on the footage is that Disciples III is keeping the strategy-RPG elements from Disciples II which is the strategic overworld map, the recruitment and equipping of heroes, and the dark, gothic fantasy artwork that made the game series different from the bloom brightness of the Heroes of Might & Magic series.

What is also different is the combat system. In Disciples II, Combat was in a tranfixed area with simplistic controls in a round-based turn system. A unit was highlighted and was given two types of actions, a special move, or selection of target to attack. In Disciples III, there is now a grid-based system similar to the Heroes of Might & Magic combat system. You can now move your units like chess pieces across a grid.

Hopefully the changes in the combat system will work and integrate itself well in the game. For lovers of the strategy-RPG genre, the game will arrive in North America in July 2010. Visit the Disciples III website for more details.

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Romance and Companions in MMO's?

Apparently, you can have companions to fight along your side and also have the chance to romance them, according to the game systems section from Star Wars: The Old Republic website.

In the Star Wars universe, Han Solo had Chewie, Luke Skywalker had C-3P0, and romance-wise Han also had Leia; it seems Bioware wanted to bring the experience of have side-kicks and girl(boy)friends adventuring alongside you. Now this doesn't seem surprising; after all this is Bioware, known for making RPGs with character interactions since Baldur's Gate II. However, to bring the same level of character interaction to MMORPGs? That is whole other ballgame considering most of the action taken in other MMOs like World of Warcraft and Everquest is acquiring quests, killing x number amount of foozles, and attaining the next level and gear.

But count me excited. As much as it kind of sounds awkward to think about romancing an NPC, Bioware has been consistent in keeping up with companion interactions. But think about it: the choice of shooting blasters at a bunch with Sith cronies while your hot romantic interest joins the fight, making flirty small talk as you both blast your way to whatever objective? It sounds kind like a unique kind of awesome.

In an IGN article covering a quick interview with Bioware developer James Ohlen, the companions for each class in The Old Republic will supplement with the class' abilities. Not only that, the player also influence their actions while the companions themselves will try to influence vice-versa. The way this is done is similar to the Dragon Age system of Affection, which can be altered in any companion through actions, words, or gifts. The player can bring a companion to the Dark Side, or redeem a Dark-aligned companion towards the Light Side.

This sounds like it could fundamentally change how MMOs can be approached. I know that some gamers might disagree with the whole romance and companion thing, preferring that they themselves are the only important characters in the gameworld. The way I see it, it's going to make soloing less boring and a bit more interactive.

There's actually footage from E3 that shows the questing with companions:

Trooper and smuggler always shoots first when it comes to a Rodian scum.

Ah, but enough talk. I now know for certain that in a galaxy far far away, I have found my waifu.