The 2010 Game Developer conference wasn’t short of surprises. The Sony motion controller stole the show, receiving a name, price point, and creative new titles from some of the gaming industry’s best developers.
Sony’s motion controller finally got a proper reveal and was playable for press attending the event. Although the Sony controller resembles the Wii controller, it promises to do much more. PlayStation “Move” snagged the spotlight of the show with new game announcements such as “Sports Champions,” “Move Party,” “LittleBigPlanet Move,” “Motion Fighters,” and optional use in “SOCOM 4.”
“Sports Champions” will have a collection of various sport games, giving gamers an experience closely related to Wii Sports. After showing off table tennis and gladiator duel, Sony hopes to attract casual gamers with a Wii-like experience but with highly upgraded HD visuals.
Another title Sony will be offering to the casual gamer is “Move Party.” In this title, players will be in the action with their PS Eye. They will be able to build a world either alone or with a friend.
The original “LittleBigPlanet” was the subject of much critical acclaim and high sales. Sony is hoping to lure its customers who loved the original to invest in Move to play the next installment, “LittleBigPlanet Move.” Users will be able to create new levels and navigate puzzles with the wave of a wand rather than a button press.
With “SOCOM 4,” Sony is also trying to get current PlayStation 3 owners to purchase Move. There will be an option to use a standard DualShock controller or the Move motion controller.
Gamers hoping to experience Move breathed a sigh of relief when Sony announced the price point for the starter kit to be under 100 dollars. This kit will include PS Eye, a motion controller, and a game that is yet to be named. They also announced it will be bundled with the PlayStation 3 system, which has no price set yet.
This holiday season will prove whether or not Sony can attract casual gamers anywhere near the astounding rate Nintendo’s Wii has since its release over three years ago. Sony is also not the only company developing new technology. Capcom, Activision, SEGA, Konami, Disney have all announced that they are developing titles compatible with the Move.
The early press buzz from journalists who have had hands-on time with the new Move peripheral is strong. It appears the peripheral is very similar to the Wii motion controller in feel and function but with a few improvements. Move is more ergonomic, as it is rounded instead of squared off. The one-to-one interaction with onscreen elements is smoother and more refined and will provide gamers with a more immersive (and less frustratingly jittery) experience. Most importantly, the PS3 is high-definition, and with the addition of Move Sony is the first to the gate with its version “Wii HD.”
But with the spotlight on new technology, one might miss what the show is all about: games. Crysis 2, Fable 3, a new Rock Band, Metroid: Other M, Civilization V, Hunted, and Mafia II all showed off previews with exciting new details that gamers everywhere have been clamoring for.
A much-anticipated gaming service called OnLive also received attention. Since its reveal at GDC 2009, OnLive has been nearly absent from the headlines. At this year’s conference it’s back with new information and a release date for service.
OnLive is a cloud gaming solution that will allow subscribers to play any game offered by the service on their PC or Mac using OnLive’s remote servers for the processing of the game. Gamers will be able to subscribe and play unlimited games without ever leaving home on July 17. The subscription cost is only 15 dollars, substantially lower than earlier projections of 25 dollars or more a month.
Microconsole was also announced and will allow OnLive games to be streamed onto user’s television screens. This service will allow gamers without a high-end gaming rig to play games far beyond the capabilities of their current computer. If OnLive is able to come close to its promises of low lag, gamers everywhere might reconsider the way they play their favorite games.
Along with the buzz regarding new hardware, software also had a strong GDC showing. “Green Day: Rock Band” was displayed with new details to the game. It will include hits such as “American Idiot,” “Brain Stew/Jaded,” “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “Hitchin’ a Ride,” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” The sheer variety of this set list is sure to put fans’ concerns to rest over whether or not the game would include older favorites from “Dookie,” Green Day’s breakthrough album. The game will be released June 8.
When the original “Crysis” was released, the incredibly lifelike visuals made quite an impression. Jaws dropped once again upon the reveal of CryEngine 3, the engine being used for “Crysis 2.” With amazing visuals and near-perfect physics, “Crysis 2” has the potential to be the best-looking game of all time. With a holiday release on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, gamers have time to bask in the anticipation as the year goes on.
On the other end of the gaming spectrum, RPG veterans over at Bethesda announced its new title “Hunter: The Demon’s Forge.” Gamers will play as a mercenary hunting for valuable loot in a sprawling fantasy world and slowly uncover an evil plot along the way.
And if you’ve ever dreamt of being a Mob boss like Al Capone, you’re in luck with the new 2K Game “Mafia II.” You’ll play as Vito, an Italian-American with a dream of escaping the poverty he’s lived in throughout his life. Gamers will punch, kick, and shoot their way to the top of the Mafia ranks or die trying. Early buzz is that this game is quite challenging, but that it makes good on the promise that was apparent in the disappointing yet ambitious “Mafia.”
With new gaming goodness being announced and more specifics on known titles in development, there seems to be a game for everyone coming to stores everywhere. GDC is generally considered a convention for game developers rather than gamers, but this year no one went home disappointed.
