Back In The Saddle: Covering Live Events

As I type this up, I’m sitting in a room with about 50 (video game) fighters watching multiple fights on my school’s big screens.  The reason, Civil War VI.  Put together by Robin Palm, Civil War itself Is a fighting game tournament that plays host to a good number of competitors along the east coast.  My first Civil War was Civil War IV.  I went to cover it for the podcast I work on (then called ” All Your News Are  Belong To Us”) using a ZOOM mic and my PS Vita to grab video.  It was three days and held in a Comfort Inn on Broad st. Richmond, VA.

 

It was an amazing experience and my first real taste of large scale HYPE.  I got hours of audio interviewing fighters, merchants, and others involved in the community.  It’s also where I met Chris Bahun, how has since provided me the opportunity to write for his site “Put That Back“.  The atmosphere was energetic and the people were cool and unique. I learned all about the “Salty Suite” and crashed a hotels room and breakfast.  I got to see staples in the fighting community work and play.  People like;  BIG-E, Team Spooky, NYChrisG, Dieminion, and so many more.  I cobbled together the first day’s worth of audio into a episode but can’t even remember what I did with the rest.  Admittedly, a lot of what I got has never aired, not because it wasn’t good, but because school and other matters pushed them to the wayside.  One day I’ll get it out there.

 

Fastforward two years, to Civil War VI where I’m back at it, only this time recording for “Pixel Glitch” (current podcast, avalible on iTunes) and getting video for “M.O.D.tv” (my youtube channel still in the works).  And while I’m excited I realize that a lot has changed.  For starters, the venue.  While the tournament was held at a Comfort Inn in the past, this time around its being held in VCU’s Academic Learning Commons (which I have since learned is referred to as the MCAL building to every other student).  This is much better set up was as the building is better equipped to handle more systems and monitors.  There are also big screens in every room allowing for better/multiple viewings of the fights. 

 

The second change, my level of involvement.  Maybe its how much sleep I’ve been getting, or perhaps things in my personal life taking its toll.  Whatever the reason, I haven’t hustled as hard for interviews.  Sure Civil Wars IV & V were three days long while VI is only two, but even if that weren’t the case I did serious ground pounding the first time.  This time around I’ve got a bunch of video but not pressing as hard as I should for personal accounts.  Maybe I am tiered as I almost fell asleep in the middle of the UMvC3 finals while typing this.  Isn’t to say that what I did get won’t work, just that the more the better.  

 

Ok so the top eight finals for UMvC3 are going to start soon, so I’m going to cut this off here and try and get back to work.  Revist this post, as I’ll update it when I get the chance.

Predications Expanded [NSFW (lang)]

Really. the only two to focus on.

Meant to post this earlier, but spent a good part of the day playing Deus Ex: Human Evolution. We’ll get to that later, in this post I’m going to make a few educated guess about what’s gonna go down give the facts and rumors provided. This is gonna be fun!

Prediction:

I going to call this one now.  Sony will announce Hawken as a game free to play for the PS4.

Reasoning:

Respawn Entertainment is pushing Titanfall for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. Seein as this will estinetly be the next-gen Mech Assualt, it would only make sense for Sony to pick up indie studio Adhesive Games and/or  publisher Metero Entertainment, to bring a real “Titan” of mech gaming from the PC to the PS4.  And seeing as how Hawken has been in open beta for sometime now, the only thing Sony would need to do is help workout the kinks and port the sucker to the console.  Further more, with Warframe coming to the PS4 free to play, the next logical step is to let that business model carry over.  Hell, if Dust 514 can hold a micro transaction / free to play model, there’s no reason it can’t carry over to a game that actually looks like fun.*

Prediction:

Microsoft will charge for extended cloud storage.

Reasoning:

Sure, this one sounds bias, but that only because Anthony Jones pointed out to me that their free to play games, aren’t free to silver members.  Seems only fair to assume that a company so dead set on holding online mutliplayer for ransom would charge you for a place to back up your saves.

Prediction:

David Hayter will be somewhere or somehow be involved Metal Gear V.**

Reasoning:When Hideo Kojima announced that Kiefer Sutherland would be the voice of Snake In the upcoming Metal Gear, die hard fans soiled their pantaloons in anger.  So much so, that they drew up a petition to get David Hayter (the original American voice talent for Snake) back in the game.  Watching behind the sences footage of the game, it maybe to late for that, but this could also be anthore Kojima classic Cincinnati shuffle.  But it would be a pricey one, as I can’t imagine Mr. Sutherland going through all that for a good three to five minutes of B-roll.  Either way, Kojima has always had a special way of pleasing long time fans, just look at Johnny.  Chances are Hayter will have some sort of cameo in the game if not the promotion of it.

Prediction:Nintendo may actually do something orginal.

Reasoning:

None really. Just a very small bit of me wanting to believe that Nintendo is capable of surprising me.

Prediction:

The general reaction towards Nintendo direct conference will be a lethargic “yay.“.

Reasoning:

Their last original IP was Pikmin. That game came out in ’01 with a squeal that followed three years later.  If that wasn’t enough the first one ended up being released in 2009 for the Wii.  It really says a lot about how you operate your business when you run the same show ponies year after year with maybe one or two new tricks.  You’re definitely going to be seeing a new Super Smash, most likely some Mario, new Zelda if you’re lucky, but would you really care?  While these IPs are classics and are the foundation of many a childhood (mine included), it just feels like Nintendo is comfortable being just that, a foundation for your childhood.  Because when you grow up and the Goombas and tingle have lost your interest, you realize that Nintendo is and always will be a family friendly company.  They have some mature rated games, but they’re from third party developers, and Nintendo doesn’t exactly have the strongest track record for backing them.  That’s not to say the hardcore fanpersons (look at us all politically correct) aren’t going to lose their collective shit no matter what they do.  Swear to glob though, they bring Starfox back in all its (Super FX Chip/N64) style glory, I’ll blow Reggie Fisame, on stage, at the next E3.  But if Fox step his fury ass out of that Y-Wing, the deals off!***

Prediction:

RGIII, Joel McHale, some on thee rise celeb, will try and convince to buy the Xbox One.

Reasoning:

Microsoft will definitely be putting the hard press on all the deal they made with various sports and the people who profit from.  (The NFL, EA Sports, ect.) So its a safe bet to expect Griffin the 3rd, especially given the nasty injury he picked up, he’s going to be looking to get some low-impact face time with the people.  As McHale, if the Microsoft buy out rumors are true, they might snatch him up from Ubisoft, just for added star power.  And with the Kinect set to be mandate on all Xbox Ones, Microsoft is going to need someone who’s career is rising, like they hope there system will. Or Justin Bibber seeing as how Usher did last time.

That’s it for now, I’ll add to this if I can think of anymore.

*I really like the concept behind Dust 514, but something about that game doesn’t work for me.  Maybe it needs more polish, or perhaps its because I feel the equipment and level management feels overwhelming and convoluted.  What ever the reason, I’ll still play it, because its free, supports the move, and I have one of those sweet SharpShooters.

**I think I made my point about this in the reasoning, so this aside is superfluous.

***Fun fact: Nintendo started off as card game company.  Can’t say there not afraid to tying anything new.  Which leaves that outside possibility that they’ll do something to blow us away, but how long before that take that risk with their software.  Also someone needs that misery treatment for that sorry limp dick burden on society that was Starfox Assault.  I realized that to slightly praise the company for its technological innovation, encourage them to think out side the box on games, and then bash them on the risk that was SF Assault is rather counter productive.  But really the whole draw of that series was the piloting.  Why the hell would anyone want to go from that to puzzles?

The Super Bowl of Games is Nie!

     June 10th is coming up fast and unless you’re a gamer, you probably don’t understand the importance of the date.  June 10th marks the beginning of the Electronic Entertainment Expo or E3 for short.  Every year all eyes turn to the LA Convention Center to see what the big names in gaming are going to do next.  Everything from systems to new Intellectual Properties (IPs) are debut and/or elaborated on at this event, so you can imagine the frothing of mouths from every nerd, techie, gamer, ect., that occurs around this time.

     In fact, as I’m typing this I’m watching the Xbox One press conference* so as to be on level with all systems for the coming date.  If you’ve been following this blog, you’ve probably deduced that I haven’t actually watched it and that my opinions were based what was relayed to me by friend/blogger/co-host Anthony Jones and an IGN article by Keza MacDonald.  Catching the highlights video on the Xbox One page and the first eight minutes of the hour long press conference, the system shows promise, but not enough to sway me from the PlayStation 4’s hype train, but I digress.  For three days every publisher and developer will be producing all sorts of info and swag to say potential buyers and share holders to hand over their hard earned Benjamens.  This means, that as well as finally seeing the PS4 itself, we’ll also be privy to the latest exclusives for all systems, trailers and game play for upcoming squeals, and while not promoted as much advancements in consumer tech.

   I’ll be feverishly covering every feed I can to find out as much as I can about everything happening on the show floor and

Here’s a list of what I’m going to be keeping an eye out for/hoping to see:

Sony:

• Aside from the console itself, more detail on the on board programs and features that will be offered.
• Clearer explanation as to used games and the PS4
• More information on the social aspects of the new system and any changes to the PlayStation Network.
• News regarding the future of the PlayStation Vita.
• What PlayStation Plus users can expect to see in the coming months.
• More news on “Warframe“!

Microsoft:

• The fifteen exclusives (counting the eight original IPs) mentioned during the Xbox One reveal.
• Any plans on how the new system will handle social networking. (Skype was a good example.)
• Anything that suggests that Microsoft didn’t just switch there demographic from causal/family gamers, couch potato jocks. (That may sound a bit bias.
• Peter Molyneux, because after Milo, I’m curious to see if he’s willing to try and pull something like that again.

Nintendo:

• The  next Super Smash Bros.
• Anything original.  Be it first party or third, Nintendo needs something fresh and new to bounce back from the lull in consumer interest.
• An “M” rated exclusive.  They need something racy to keep up with the market.  Not a lot, but something.
• News on the “Vitality Sensor“, because if you’re actively going to try and push a product that barely anybody knew about on the the N64 to the Wii, you might as well get your moneys worth.
• Something to make me excited to hear “Nintendo” again.

*After watching the video in its entirety, I’m less rabid bashing about the the system, but my comments still stand.  My little brother (who had not seen the video), stated that no one is seeing Microsoft when it comes to sports.  I’m going to have to agree with him.  I think the reason that might be, is because Microsoft is an American company and as such can strike a deal with organizations like the NFL and ESPN a lot easier than Sony or Nintendo (sense they’re both based out of Japan).  Other than that, the interrogation and quick response of the Kinect in terms of switching between activities, put us one step closer to that Tony Stark/Jarvis interface I so desperately want out of my tech.