E3 2012 – What Are You Waiting For?
We know what the gamers like.
At least, we want to. With the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo just one week away, the anticipation has skyrocketed. In one week’s time, gamers around the world will be tuning in to get their first glimpses of the future of gaming in the upcoming years. The stages have already been set for the inevitable “Who will win E3?” debates and “This new technology will revolutionize gaming!” arguments.
I wish I had the inside scoop on what brand spanking new, as yet unannounced titles will be showcased at the “Big Three” panels this year, but sadly I’ve yet to so thoroughly infiltrate the industry’s mighty defenses. Perhaps next year, after I’ve finished my lessons with Snake. I have, however, compiled a list of the most likely games that will receive major attention this year.
And I’d like for you to vote on which one you most want to see!
This announcement arguably stole the show (or at very least the Microsoft portion of it) last year, despite an accident that caused the trailer to be cast upon the vast waters of the internet prematurely. For many months after, new developer 343 Industries kept their lips sealed, but more recently they’ve seen fit to disseminate a wealth of information about the game, most of which has yielded mixed responses (to put it mildly). Whether you’re cautiously skeptical or hopelessly optimistic, there’s no doubt that Master Chief’s upcoming return will draw a fair share of anticipation.
A new assassin. A new setting. New developments in the mysterious plot encompassing our pal Desmond Miles. After an excursion deep into the life of Ezio Auditore, fans of Ubisoft’s acclaimed series will see a return to the tradition of playing as a new ancestor in the wildly anticipated (so much so that instead of a first gameplay trailer releasing upon the countdown hitting zero, the servers crashed) next installment. Players will have the chance to skim across historic battlefields, fighting alongside some of the most courageous heroes America has ever known.
The world premiere of a new IP from Naughty Dog had gamers stunned when it appeared last December during Spike TV’s annual Video Game Awards. Games revealed at the VGA’s have a long history of stepping into the spotlight at the following E3 conference, and I’m betting (and hoping) that this one is no exception. While information is still somewhat scarce, it seems that The Last of Us will be the story of two average folks trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where danger lurks around every corner. Hopefully not in the form of zombies. We all know how Naughty Dog is with their zombies.
The long-awaited sequel to Vigil’s debut of a new IP back in 2010, Darksiders II has garnered plenty of attention despite diminished coverage following the announcement of its delay. The original Darksiders drew a great deal of praise, commonly being compared to the acclaimed Legend of Zelda series. The publishers have hinted that the sequel will build upon its predecessor’s strong suits while attempting to distance itself a bit from other games in the genre. There simply aren’t enough good action/adventure titles these days, and following the quest of Death himself sounds like a grand tale gamers will be eager to learn more about.
Call of Duty… in the future? That was certainly unexpected. Much like information about Halo 4, reactions to this startling announcement have been mixed. It represents a shift from the put-out-a-slightly-different-game-every-year paradigm that the franchise has become famous (or infamous) for over the years. Will this change have such a great impact that the series will be reborn? Will it blow up in Treyarch’s faces? Will it actually be the same old Call of Duty in a new setting? These are the questions many are interested to have answered next week.
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In addition to these five big upcoming titles, there are plenty more exciting releases heading our way later this year that are sure to be featured at this year’s E3. Dishonored, Borderlands 2, a new God of War. The list goes on and on. And, of course, Nintendo’s new Wii U console. You can find more information about the E3 conference schedule here, and be sure to check back this week for more coverage leading up to the Expo.
About Eileen Murphy
Writer. Reader. Thinker. Gamer. Addicted gamer, you might say.
