Grave Gamer News & Views — elder scrolls online

QuakeCon 2013 [Dallas, TX]

I’m only going to say this once.  Because you’re probably hearing it from every recess, avenue, and nook of the internet right about now.  So, here goes, just the once: Sony destroyed Microsoft today.

Sony sat back and did what resourceful companies do; they observed.  All of Microsoft’s weak spots, the negative reaction, even their own fans directly voicing their opinions through Twitter, blogs, and vlogs.  Sony listened, waited, and after assessing the situation…they struck.  Hard, fast, and not without some self-appreciative glee.

Sony and Microsoft have two next-gen consoles so similar in intent and execution, all the gaming public could do was look for the key differences.  Those differences, unfortunately for the Big M, came down to a war of ideologies.  And in this case Sony smartly – and deliberately –  petitioned for the people.

The Red Herb Roundup - 7/22/12

Sweet Zeus, it’s been awhile since I’ve done one of these.  If you’re unfamiliar with why I’m listing vidja game happenings the week over, it’s because these be the stories that caught my eye but failed to pull my hands towards the keyboard.  The Roundup was supposed to be a safety net to catch my lazy bones and get me a-finger tappin’ but its temporary decommission proved my lethargy had reached new, possibly dangerous levels.

But today, friends, to fuck with that noise.  Knowing that you guys are just out there eating gaming news without a single side of sarcasm is…it just…it basically gives me thought-hemorrhoids.  And with that, welcome back to the Roundup:

• Resident Evil: Damnation, an original CG movie that fits snugly into the games’ canon, is releasing on Blu-Ray and not-Blu-Ray on September 25th.  Unlike the RE films you may be accustomed to, Damnation probably won’t feature brief Jovovich nudity (but don’t rule it out).
• A valiant and anonymous soul working at NASA has decided to laser engrave an image of Portal 2’s Wheatley on this panel which will be launched into space and sent to live its days on the International Space Station.  As Wheatley puts it, he’ll be “In spaaaaaaace!"  Someone please remind me why NASA’s budget was cut.
• After six long years in tumultuous development, rumblings strongly suggest Final Fantasy Versus XIII has been shit-canned by Square Enix.  Sources say Square isn’t keen on outwardly admitting they sunk Versus XIII in order to protect their stock.  This having been the only FF to get me excited about the franchise in about, oh say, six years, I’ve scheduled at least one proper afternoon to scream my guts out.
• However, Square has promised September 1st will house some sort of presentation celebrating the series’ 25th anniversary.  Specifically, they have an announcement pertaining to the Fabula Nova Crystallis segment of games in which anything branded with the number XIII belongs to.  Best case scenario, Versus XIII has been pushed to next-gen consoles; worst case, a tired coroner out there has to explain to my loved ones how a person is able to scream his organs out of his body.
• EA’s marketing department admitted co-op was introduced into Dead Space 3 because their research found that consumers thought the first two games were too scary.  Rightfully so, of course, but if that’s your major complaint, are you sure horror games are for you, pal?  Personally, I like my survival horror scare factor right in between "Loud, persistent man-sobbing” and “I’ve filled my pants.”
• Capcom Vancouver, the dev behind Dead Rising 2 and all pertaining to it, has laid off 7% of its staff, amounting to 20 employees total.  Interestingly enough, it doesn’t sound as if Capcom is simply tightening its belt, claiming the firings came about from “periodic assessment."  The studio’s even scouting for new talent, leaving us to wonder what sort of project they’re switching up their staff in preparation for.  Dead Rising 3, anyone?
• The Elder Scrolls Online might make it console-side after all.  Zenimax isn’t actively flogging team members in order to crank one out, but if truly worthy, the next generation of systems may be able to contain the MMO’s beastliness.  We’ll just file this one under "Shit That Probably Won’t Happen” right next to a Diablo III port to spare us from future heartbreak.
• Battlefield 4’s existence was accidentally outed by EA in a listing that promotes the fact you’ll get your hands on a beta with purchase of Medal of Honor: Warfighter’s Limited Edition.  How soon will BF4 come out?  Given that the beta is planned to launch in the Fall of 2013, I’d say chances of “soon” are FUBAR.

That Was Quick, Internet:  The Elder Scrolls Online Screens and Info Leaked

A PDF of Game Informer Online’s June edition looks to have been leaked early (and when I say “leaked,” I mean downright poured), unleashing the entire featured write-up on Bethesda’s run at the MMO market, Elder Scrolls Online.  Included in the article were several concept and in-game images from the game.  With the MMORPG’s announcement, Game Informer promised fans would get a singular glimpse at the new game today.  Instead, nineteen images surfaced.  That’s more than sneaking a peek; that’s lifting up the game’s skirt and snapping photos.

I don’t imagine Game Informer is anywhere within the realm of pleased regarding the leak.  If this was an accident, hopefully no one’s job security (or life) comes into harm’s way.  I can assure the magazine’s staff and Bethesda that we all feel really very guilty about all the screens our eyeballs are enjoying.  Sorry for the, uh, whole photo and skirts thing.