by John Jennings
Bethesda have always been known to gamers around the world for making excellent quality games, and today they took another leap forward by hosting their first ever electronic entertainment (E3) conference!
Bethesda have always been known to gamers around the world for making excellent quality games, and today they took another leap forward by hosting their first ever electronic entertainment (E3) conference!
They kicked the show off by showing some footage from their upcoming Doom reboot. The new game is built on the ID6 game engine (or ID666, as the developers joked), and will include the classic ‘Super Shotgun’ as a returning weapon, something older fans of the series should recognise. Showcased was not one but two campaign missions, one set on a UAC Facility on Mars, and the other was, of course, in Hell. You’re tasked with killing demons, lots of demons in all shapes and sizes. The demo also showed the new game was staying true to its roots, with plenty of blood and gore as a demon ripped the players arms off.
We were also shown the new Multiplayer feature, which is a fast paced combat arena game mode featuring power ups, with more information expected on the multiplayer portion of the game later in the year.
Perhaps the biggest part of the Doom announcement however, was the ID software; what if every player had the ability to create and share their own maps and environments, regardless of platform. Introducing Doom Snapmap, an easy to use in-game tool, where players can create intricate maps, make new modes and share with the press of a single button.
Doom will be arriving on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in Spring 2016.
Moving on from the Doom announcement was a trailer for Battlecry, an online action game. The trailer showed the different character classes available to choose from, at present, these being: Brawler, Enforcer, Infiltrator, Ranger and Gadgeteer. You can sign up to get hands on in a beta version of the game by visiting the Battlecry website.
Next up, the team behind The Elder Scrolls Online couldn't be at the show, however they did release a sneak peek of what to expect in the coming months for the recently released MMO. First up were two locations, Imperial City and Orsinium, Realm of Orcs. There was no time frame given as to when players would get to see this content, but given that this is an ever growing online universe, it could be relatively soon. There was also a surprise game announcement, one which, from a personal standpoint, I didn't see coming at all; The Elder Scrolls Legends, a strategy card game that will be free-to-play for PC and iOS. The teaser trailer revealed very litte, except that ‘your destiny is your own to craft’.
We were also shown the new Multiplayer feature, which is a fast paced combat arena game mode featuring power ups, with more information expected on the multiplayer portion of the game later in the year.
Perhaps the biggest part of the Doom announcement however, was the ID software; what if every player had the ability to create and share their own maps and environments, regardless of platform. Introducing Doom Snapmap, an easy to use in-game tool, where players can create intricate maps, make new modes and share with the press of a single button.
Doom will be arriving on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in Spring 2016.
Moving on from the Doom announcement was a trailer for Battlecry, an online action game. The trailer showed the different character classes available to choose from, at present, these being: Brawler, Enforcer, Infiltrator, Ranger and Gadgeteer. You can sign up to get hands on in a beta version of the game by visiting the Battlecry website.
Next up, the team behind The Elder Scrolls Online couldn't be at the show, however they did release a sneak peek of what to expect in the coming months for the recently released MMO. First up were two locations, Imperial City and Orsinium, Realm of Orcs. There was no time frame given as to when players would get to see this content, but given that this is an ever growing online universe, it could be relatively soon. There was also a surprise game announcement, one which, from a personal standpoint, I didn't see coming at all; The Elder Scrolls Legends, a strategy card game that will be free-to-play for PC and iOS. The teaser trailer revealed very litte, except that ‘your destiny is your own to craft’.
After the reveal of Elder Scrolls Legends, it was Arkane Studios turn to reveal to much anticipated Dishonored 2. The game will feature a new playable character, Emily Kaldwin, who made an appearance in the first instalment. With the empire once again in jeopardy, you are given the choice to play as this new playable character or Corvo, the main character from the first game, both with their own unique abilities and, like the original game, you can play it with your weapons drawn or none at all. No solid release date for this game was announced, but it is a safe bet it will arrive next year. Don’t worry though, as you can get your Dishonored fix from the autumn release of the ‘definitive edition’ for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Finally, Pete Hines returned to the stage and joked that the show was over, leaving some temporarily upset Fallout 4 fans hanging. Of course, Bethesda would leave the best for last, and we were quickly treated to a wealth of new information from game director, Todd Howard.
So what did we see from the demo? It all begins before the bombs fell, on a seemingly idyllic Saturday morning. We see a new take on Fallout’s character creation, giving you the option to switch between the potential male and female (husband and wife) player characters, customising them both using innovative click and drag style facial moulding; gone are the days of awkward pre-sets. Interestingly, Howard went on to mention that character's baby, currently asleep in the next room, will be generated based on your choices for characters, it will be interesting to see how this plays out in the story.
Finally, Pete Hines returned to the stage and joked that the show was over, leaving some temporarily upset Fallout 4 fans hanging. Of course, Bethesda would leave the best for last, and we were quickly treated to a wealth of new information from game director, Todd Howard.
So what did we see from the demo? It all begins before the bombs fell, on a seemingly idyllic Saturday morning. We see a new take on Fallout’s character creation, giving you the option to switch between the potential male and female (husband and wife) player characters, customising them both using innovative click and drag style facial moulding; gone are the days of awkward pre-sets. Interestingly, Howard went on to mention that character's baby, currently asleep in the next room, will be generated based on your choices for characters, it will be interesting to see how this plays out in the story.
From this point on we are shown around the home of the main characters, when there is a knock on the front door from a Vault-Tec representative, who at first looks like he is trying to sell something, however it turns out you are eligible for access to the vault, and are offered the chance to set your S.P.E.C.I.A.L stats.
Of course, things don’t stay shiny forever. Fallout sirens sound, and you and your family make your way to Vault, just as the bombs drop on Boston. 200 years later (and some stasis magic?) you emerge as the sole survivor ofVault 111. The game itself is a dynamic world, you can still do whatever you want to do from the get go, travel the world and explore, complete missions, the choice is yours to make.
Sticking with the Fallout tradition, the dog featured in the trailer is a potential companion and can be ordered to fetch items, move to a certain location and take commands.
Part way through the Fallout 4 demo, Howard reveals that the Pip-Boy is still a big part of the game and elicited a huge response from the audience when announcing the Pip-Boy Edition of the game, complete with a wearable version of the device, complete with a smart phone slot so you can use your companion app like a true survivor of the post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Perhaps the biggest and most exciting addition to Fallout 4 however is the optional crafting aspect, which has been completely overhauled. Entering crafting allows you to break down scrap from the environment and use it to create your own homes and settlements, including defences against the inevitable raider attacks. It’s great that they seem to be catering for all types of players, without forcing any specific games modes onto anyone (*cough* AC: Unity *cough*).
Of course, things don’t stay shiny forever. Fallout sirens sound, and you and your family make your way to Vault, just as the bombs drop on Boston. 200 years later (and some stasis magic?) you emerge as the sole survivor ofVault 111. The game itself is a dynamic world, you can still do whatever you want to do from the get go, travel the world and explore, complete missions, the choice is yours to make.
Sticking with the Fallout tradition, the dog featured in the trailer is a potential companion and can be ordered to fetch items, move to a certain location and take commands.
Part way through the Fallout 4 demo, Howard reveals that the Pip-Boy is still a big part of the game and elicited a huge response from the audience when announcing the Pip-Boy Edition of the game, complete with a wearable version of the device, complete with a smart phone slot so you can use your companion app like a true survivor of the post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Perhaps the biggest and most exciting addition to Fallout 4 however is the optional crafting aspect, which has been completely overhauled. Entering crafting allows you to break down scrap from the environment and use it to create your own homes and settlements, including defences against the inevitable raider attacks. It’s great that they seem to be catering for all types of players, without forcing any specific games modes onto anyone (*cough* AC: Unity *cough*).
Fallout 4 will be with us November 10th, but the biggest surprise of the Fallout conference was definitely the immediate release of iOS resource management game Fallout Shelter, which makes you the overseer of your own vault as you build it up, add rooms, and assign vault dwellers to appropriate work. You also can level characters up, send them out for resources and get attacked by raiders giving you something to keep you busy, this app is available to download now and is free to play with no internet connection required. Keep your eyes out for our Fallout Shelter review later this week.
Did you watch the conference live stream? What did you think to the reveals?
Did you watch the conference live stream? What did you think to the reveals?
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