Gamertell

08:55 PMPJ Hruschak said:

That got legit applause. And the press conference ends.

08:55 PMPJ Hruschak said:

He can now shoot darts from his wrist bands.

08:54 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Trailer is highly rendered goodness, definitely not game footage. Impressive, though.

08:53 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Great looking cutscenes, Carnivale moments with ladies in skimpy outfits. Lots of fireworks. More blurry visions. lts of blood and knives and hooded outfits.

08:51 PMPJ Hruschak said:

November 17, 2009, release date. Trailer being shown.

08:51 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Renaissance-era game - Assassin’s Creed 2 - re-teased.

08:50 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Next new title/project - mentions Rez, Lumines - Tetsu Yamaguchi (sp?) is working on an unnamed project, code named “Eden.”

08:48 PMPJ Hruschak said:

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle being made by Ubisoft.

08:47 PMPJ Hruschak said:

The French cannot say “Cowabunga.”

08:47 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Trailer for game - includes Splinter, Shredder and scantily clothed April. Yep, it’s a fighting/brawler game like Super Smash Brothers. Coming Fall 2009.

08:45 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Smashup game.

08:44 PMPJ Hruschak said:

North America president takes stage to talk about TMNT 25th anniversary.

08:43 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Seacrest jab #15.

08:43 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Game froze for a second. WiiMote motion controls to knock stuff around, like engines off of planes which you then use to drive your cart. Game playable at E3.

08:41 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Can steal the pants off your opponents. You collect and destroy stuff (to collect them). Much like a minikart game with stunt moves. Van pimp our cart.

08:39 PMPJ Hruschak said:

You also get to accessorize the Rabid. I’m guessing this is the home base avatar that you pile with earned items. Then you can put him in the game as-is. Use shopping cart to collect stuff and build the giant pile.

08:38 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Rabid in a genie-type room they are calling the WiiMote. Shows the WiiMote’s control abilities but also lets you abuse the Rabid (man these French are into torture, aren’t they?)

08:36 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Shopping carts are key to the game, very slapstick animated trailer. Lots of nearly naked cartoon people. Coming out for the Wii. Live demo begins.

08:34 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Rabids Go Home trailer - very cute intro.

08:33 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Rabids decide to g home (the Moon) and try to take stuff with them (Katamari anyone?) to build a giant hill to the moon.

08:32 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Good lord, yet another Ryan Seacrest jab.

08:32 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Rabids Go Home - Raving Rabids’ Adrien Lacey. Wow a giant bunny in a shopping cart.

08:31 PMPJ Hruschak said:

More lame unfunny host jokes.

08:31 PMPJ Hruschak said:

First Wii game to use a camera. Uses USB port.

08:30 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Movement tracking (and live encouragement). Game being released for Wii 9even though no WiiMote).

08:29 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Camera looks like a web cam. Scans body, do a fitness test and pick settings for goals and time.

08:29 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Your Shape game name - Camera to be released Christmas 2009. Trailer,

08:28 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Camera means no controller, no wires.

08:27 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Real-time feedback on your moves by in-game coach and tracks your shape. (Insert camera adds 10 pounds joke here).

08:26 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Felecia Williams takes the stage - talking about the camera for Fitness category of games. You are in the game with real-time moves, and get real-body diagnosis..

08:25 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Fitness is the fastest growing genre.

08:24 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Style Lab - latest tween brand. Experiment with personal style within the game. Use of DSi features. Online features. (Might be a good example for other game makers as well).

08:24 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Now soem cute Petz avatars. Balancing on balls, wearing backpacks, being cute.

08:23 PMPJ Hruschak said:

More charts.

08:22 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Petz - DS games - and can upload to the web. Petz Nursery to raise animals and transfer between other Petz games (that’s prety cool). Style Lab - take photos with DSi and put face in the game. Style Lab Jewelry Design - Uplaod to a web site and purchase the real jewelry to wear. (interesting). Under the name Tween Games 2.0

08:21 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Looking to go beyond the traditional borders, “2.0 experience.” Integration, interconnectivity and invention. now for some tween game footage.

08:20 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Tween brands are huge, Imagine logo on the big screen. Now for a bunch of stats. Imagine ranked second, Pets ranked fourth in sales.

08:19 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Tony Key, marketing guy (not French). Media jerks are yelling out game titles.

08:17 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Sorry, RUSE (all caps).

08:16 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Now that game table would rule.

08:16 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Another mix of live footage and game footage. Two guys are sitting at a table at a world map, launching boats from their fingertips and tapping the table to fire cannons.

08:15 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Ruse - command massive armies. Now for a trailer.

08:13 PMPJ Hruschak said:

To be released Fall 2009 exclusively for Xbox 360 and PC.

08:11 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Break the line of sight and the enemy will search Sam’s last area (so you can flank them).

08:10 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Light & Shadow filter - when Sam goes into the shadows the view gets darker.

08:09 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Mark & Execute feature - for “dynamic stealth.” Can be done from anywhere within the environment. Mark an enemy allows Sam to take down more than one opponent. Can infiltrate in any order (nice).

08:08 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Camera flips around for best view - could either be really cool or uber annoying. As he gives up info, the camera pans to the areas he’s talking about (nice for planning stealth movies). Can use objects as weapons (piece of a broken mirror shown as weapon). Objectives are shown (“projected”) within the environment. Sam is speedier than previous games.

08:06 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Max is playing. Few seconds of blanked out audio - guessing they edited out some vulgarities. They are showing interrogation activities - can use anything in the room to help.

08:05 PMPJ Hruschak said:

New luring feature to attract opponents and then flank them. Ah, they are going to really play - but the host makes them talk s’more.

08:05 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Live game demo at E3. Sounds like they are going to show some but, again, more talking that video.

08:03 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Same footage we saw earlier. BTW: Fisher pays the piano. Faces in the cutscenes do look great.

08:02 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Don’t want to force the stealth on the player - “use stealth b/c it is better to achieve your objectives.” Trailer footage.

08:01 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Alex and Max take the stage for Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction.

08:00 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Pele’s role was “mostly focused on children… to be a mentor in this game. Team spirit is also very important and to work with their families and give them a positive message.” End of Academy of Champions.

07:58 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Getting a Harry Potter feel from moving paintings on the wall. Four-player teams (maybe five)?  A lot of flipping movies and giant kicks. Reminds me of Shaolin Soccer (the movie). Coming in 2009.

07:57 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Now for footage. Game is rated Everyone. Avatars are very French caricatures.

07:56 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Pele avatar is on the big screen.( As much as I adore Pele, the conference is getting more tedious.) He’s glad to be connected to football even though he is no longer playing, and hopes to use the game as an educational tool for kids.

07:54 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Children and education are important to Pele.

07:54 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Pele appears to be talking in French (at least in part) to the translator. Promises to talk a bit about the game’s development. Pele said football (aka soccer) was so important to him and to kids as an international way of communicating.

07:52 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Pele and the host cannot converse - Pele obviously knows a lot of languages. A translator comes on the stage to help out.

07:51 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Academy of Champions is the game, Pele is the “instructor” technical difficulties prevent the game from being shown on the giant screen. Host vamps.

07:50 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Soccer game - Pele takes the stage. Nice.

07:49 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Uses new Wii board controller. Shaun White Snowbaording: World Stage is the official name.

07:48 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Mentioned Shaun White Snowboarding and there will be a sequel. Live action footage of Shaun being kookie with a tree, feathers and ladders on a rooftop. Some footage of a new snowboarding game starring Shaun.

07:46 PMPJ Hruschak said:

More “When the Ubisoft stars come out to play” slogan placement.

07:46 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Will be bundled with the WiiMotionPlus at launch.

07:46 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Running at 60 frames per second. New look to thegame - “blending realism with graphic novel approach.” Will be demoed/able to be played at E3 on the floor.

07:45 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Dash (A+left stick)

07:44 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Can block bullets with sword. Nice jump-and-slash move. I really like the slash effect (very lightsaber-esque). Quick jump to the level boss, who swings a giant hammer. (And even gives a “Come here” grab cry).

07:43 PMPJ Hruschak said:

You can get a first-person view of a ground-stab kill. Left stick for movement, slash with WiiMote,. Nunchuck for shooting (?). “Hitting thing sis fun. Doors. Boxes. Your friends.”

07:42 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Very nice particle effects. Measure swing speed - harder slash means more damage. Can also shoot at any time. That was the tutorial? Now into real combat. Fighting some Jackals.

07:41 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Cutscenes. Lots of fire and shadows. Looks pretty good. Unclear exactly what he did in that part. now in the main game that is running very smoothly. Now slashing with the WiiMotionPlus. Sword mapped 1-to-1 with the WM+

07:40 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Game set in the desert (extra hot and dry), plays the first level of the game. I cannot tell where his hair ends and his goatee begins. Plaing the game on the Wii. Looks far better than any Wii game I’ve played. A small stutter at the intro. Some first-person dragging across the desert ground tied to a motorcycle.

07:38 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Creative Director Jason Vanderburg and “that guy” and lead designer. Jason has impressive hair and goatee. Dressed all in black.

07:37 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Red Stee 2 trailer (finally some applause) - sandy dunes, wild dogs, live action and game video mixed to show how the sword controls will work. Screen shakes when hit. Looks like some pretty nice moves (uses Nunchuck attachment).

07:36 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Red Steel 2 - WiiMotionPlus tech. with WiiMote for “realness”

07:35 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Cracking more jokes that no one is laughing at. Except a quick “so many French people back stage.” Made a weak Lindsay Lohan joke.

07:34 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Host is back.

07:34 PMPJ Hruschak said:

“In closing” - look at the payable demo at the booth. “It’s pretty fantastic… one of the first times in a video game I’ve actually been afraid.”

07:32 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Game will not contain any spoilers. Will be out before the movie.

07:32 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Avatar will be the first major stereoscopic title. He’s talking so long I suspect he’s the main attraction of Ubisoft’s press conference. Of he’s just that excited about his own project.

07:31 PMPJ Hruschak said:

He’s way over-explaining the story and production - moral themes.

07:31 PMPJ Hruschak said:

He’s way over-explaining the story and production.

07:30 PMJeremy Hill said:

30 minutes in and no game footage of anything. It’s like James Cameron presents Ubisoft.

07:30 PMPJ Hruschak said:

He’s way over-explaining the story and production.

07:30 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Ubisoft got access to all CG assets and captures. They created their own vehicles and Cameron OKed them.

07:29 PMPJ Hruschak said:

He keeps mentioning the visuals and has yet to show any.

07:29 PMPJ Hruschak said:

“Games derive from movies historically have kinda sicked. I didn’t want anything associated with Avatar to suck.” Game will follow its own story line, not the movie. Exist in parallel including embellished vehicles and settings.

07:27 PMPJ Hruschak said:

“At Ubisoft got the best of both worlds. the perfect balance.” Game’s pitched themes match the movie.

07:26 PMPJ Hruschak said:

“Fully immersive cinematic experience. Not like watching a movie. like taking a journey.”

07:26 PMPJ Hruschak said:

December 18, 2009, release date. Taking longer than Titanic to make.

07:25 PMPJ Hruschak said:

(Get to some clips, James!)

07:25 PMPJ Hruschak said:

He’s over explaining the story. Jake Sully is main character - a wounded in combat marine. As an Avatar he can walk again. Caught between military and Pandora’s native inhabitants (Navee?) and falls in love. Must choose sides. Promises a hotties, battles, ships and giants.

07:24 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Continues to describe the creatures (still not video). Involves genetic human hybrids, aka Avatars.

07:22 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Takes place in 22nd century, mostly on Pandora (large moon of a gas giant planet). Earth-like, rainforest environments.

07:22 PMPJ Hruschak said:

“It’s pretty cool to be here to tell you about the Avatar game.” He wrote the treatment 14 years ago. Studio sais “If we make this we’re doomed. The technology doesn’t exist.” he saw photo-real CG characters and resurrected it four years ago along with new tech for performance capture .

07:20 PMPJ Hruschak said:

James Cameron comes to the stage - nice.

07:20 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Yves returns to the stage.

07:20 PMPJ Hruschak said:

A lot of talking and no video. Bummer.

07:19 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Mentioned book and online as other extensions of Ubisoft’s confluence. becoming a “full 360 degrees content provider.”

07:19 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Or really take place in the Assassin’s Creed universe.

07:18 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Have pre-render tech to extract 3D environments within a game engine, and use the same effects in a live-action movie. “A massive undertaking” that will result in Assasin’s Creed movies.

07:17 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Ubisoft is working on 100 shots for Cameron’s movie (Avatar). “The result is truly spectacular.”

07:17 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Ubisoft Digital Arts - hybrid tech with Hollywood blockbuster talent to “bring together tow different talent universes… they share a vast and complimentary” skills. Teases Avatar to be shown at E3 (but not at the press conference?). Collaborative effort with James Cameron.

07:15 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Montreal Studio director comes to the stage.

07:14 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Word of the Day: confluence

07:14 PMPJ Hruschak said:

He says this will help being games to the mainstream audiences. “Game industry still has steps to do.”

07:13 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Voice command system offers new way to play games, hints 2D and 3D cameras with microphones - “we will go even further.” They are going to help “make the interface disappear” by using the body and voice.

07:13 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Latest interfaces - WiiMote and DS Stylus - “have opened world of gaming to new audiences.” Sees a lot of promise there. mentions Red Steel. WiiMotion Plus will let you “physically experience the fights.”

07:12 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Want to create games and movies. Already created bridges with Lightstorm and Fox. (Avatar the Game slide on screen.) Ubi will work with Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg and Katehrine Kennedy.

07:10 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Four service elements: UShare, UWin, UHelp (for midgame help) and UShop.

07:09 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Hired FX company and talent from movie industry. UPlay - new online destination to extend world and experience and create interactive content and share with friends.

07:09 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Talking about media convergence, including portable devices. Important to Ubisoft is the convergence of the content. Frm finite works (print) to “fully interconnected ones.” Strategy is to put in place bridges between creative talents, enrich each other’s experience. aka Confluence. Create games and movies at the same time.

07:07 PMPJ Hruschak said:

And he wants you feeback - get your email fired up.

07:07 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Yves Guillemot comes to the stage. Says E3 is key for showing the “next level.”

07:07 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Ubisoft collaborating with one of the most famous directors in Hollywood. He gives lamely unhelpful hints. Mentions stars, superheroes, armed and dangerous animals and “Ubisoft is where the stars come out to play.”

07:05 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Says everyone at Ubisoft is an equal - a free flow of ideas and everyone contributes. Sounds like a queue for a mock video. made a sets-your-house-on-fire joke (bad taste, man).

07:04 PMPJ Hruschak said:

He’s not getting many laugh. “I am a gamer. I love them. I haven’t had as much time to play them recently b/c I have two kids and I regret that. They are distracting me from my gaming time…My gamer tag is Seacrestslayer311.”

07:03 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Host announced, E’s The Soup, Joel McHale. “Good evening fellow nerds. welcome to the coolest place in Hollywood… someone is going to pay me to talk about video games. Yes.”

07:02 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Lots of cheering at the TMNT section and I think I saw an anime Big Red in there.

07:01 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Starts with a montage of game moments with a very U2-esque song playing over it.

07:01 PMPJ Hruschak said:

And it begins.

07:00 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Announcer just asked people to turn off their cell phones and get ready.

07:00 PMPJ Hruschak said:

The Ubisoft stage is very blue, thanks to several large screens with the Ubi-blue logo on a blue background.

06:58 PMPJ Hruschak said:

I’m watching the G4 broadcast which is nicely commercial-free this year (they finally learned ow to do it right and not cut in with Code Monkey breaks or awkward bantering). So blame delays on TiVo rewinding so I can get the names right.

06:55 PMPJ Hruschak said:

Minutes from the press conference’s start.