Gota's Brief Blogs: Gamescom 2014 Thoughts and Ramblings.

[Gotakibono]

So, the curtain has closed on yet another day Gamescom, and we've been left to sit back and digest the flurry of new information, new trailers, announcements, promises and sheer cock-teases regarding tomorrow's (and possibly next decade's) best games. I'm sure you - like myself - would love to run up to the windows of a few developers' houses and peek in, hoping that the curtain which has been abruptly closed on us has left just enough window uncovered to see some more deliciousness.

 

Just five more minutes of Metal Gear Solid V gameplay, and I'll be on my way.

 

Unfortunately, I doubt developers leave a giant, HD television showcasing their upcoming games right beside a handily placed window on the ground floor of an apartment complex - but a boy can dream. So you - like myself - will just have to make do with what was offered to us; much like a stray dog, we can't afford to get picky whenever we've been thrown a bone. And it's safe to say that Gamescom threw us a nice, big, juicy bone. 

 

Time for me to ramble on about the announcements and happenings that caught my attention thus far at Gamescom:

 

 

The Tomb Raider Exclusivity Betrayal and Ensuing Madness:

 

One of the most surprising things to come out of Gamescom was the news that 'The Rise of the Tomb Raider' will be released exclusively on Xbox-based consoles sometime during the holidays in 2015. Yes, that's right: Lara Croft will only be available on Xbox. Perhaps less surprisingly, people started to lose their shit left, right and centre: some people likened it to walking in on your wife with the devil; others compared it like watching your first car being driven by some random bastard you've always disliked, but never gotten to know; and many just signaled a call to arms to destroy the exclusivity deal and restore order to the universe. 

 

Sony's fanbase of '90s kids didn't take too kindly to the announcement.

 

I was among those slightly bemused by the announcement, after all exclusivity deals on third-party games are something of a rarity these days; I'm pretty sure that games developers hate to automatically exclude 50% of their potential customer base - and profit margin - in one fell swoop. But it happened. And it wasn't just any old franchise: this is Tomb Raider and Lara Croft we're talking about here. Arguably the most iconic torchbearer for the PlayStation will now ply her trade exclusively on the Xbox side of consoles - and that hits a lot of people where it hurts.

 

What it doesn't hurt, however, is Xbox-related sales figures and camp morale. The 2013 remake (reboot?) of Tomb Raider was a rip-roaring success both critically and commercially, so this is quite the coup on Mircosoft's part, and the move automatically adds a massive, well-known and highly regarded franchise to the Xbox's catalogue. The deal (however long it lasts that is) is simultaneously a great business decision and a fantastic middle-finger to Sony and their loyal subjects. All in all, a good day for Microsoft. 

 

In fact, the whole 'Lara Croft Affair' as I'm calling it caused such uproar that the head of Crystal Dynamics, Darrell Gallagher, felt obliged to release a statement addressing the issue. You can read it here. 

 

 

Silent Hill Renaissance: 

 

I haven't marked out at anything in quite a while, but the announcement that Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro will be taking the reigns of the Silent Hill series made me rise to my feet, shake violently and then immediately pass out with the overwhelming excitement. I'm a massive fan of both men's respective work, and Silent Hill is one of my most beloved franchises, so this is news that would bring a tear to a glass eye. However, Silent Hill has been horribly mistreated over the past few years. The last good Silent Hill game I played was Silent Hill: Origins on the PSP, and I could even be pushed to say that the last truly great game in the series was Silent Hill 3 - which was released all the way back in 2003. 

 

 

A decade-and-a-cherry-on-top is a long time for anything to be out in the wilderness, but for an exceptional series like Silent Hill it's a damn disgrace. Team Silent's psychological masterpieces - which were permeated by palpable fear and dread - were replaced with pale pretenders who relied on jump scares and predictable, bland set-pieces. The P.T. demo alone is reason enough for this long-time Silent Hill fan to be excited: it was remarkably well-done and executed; it was both graphically and aurally terrifying; it showcased the back-to-basics psychological, paranoia-driven fear that was once at the heart of the Silent Hill series; and to top it off it was unquestionably one of the most original ways to unveil a game I've ever seen. Then again, what else would you expect from one Hideo Kojima? Speaking of whom... 

 

 

Metal Gear Solid V

 

Hideo Kojima took Gamescom as an opportunity to spoil everyone with an in-depth demonstration of MGS V in action, and sweet merciful Buddha it looks fine; like not just fine - but FINE. 

 

It's beautiful.

 

The cardboard box versatility demos were a nice touch and showed MGS is making a return to the humour of old, even if it seems like the cardboard box has evolved into the video game (and cardboard) equivalent of Macgyver. Honestly, finishing the game using only the cardboard box doesn't seem like that tough a task with the Macgyver box at hand. 

 

Kojima's interview in the wake of the press-conference was also a nice touch, and it was the harbinger of the news that MGS V will be coming to PC; I'm already envisaging the mods that'll eventually became available - sweet cheesecake. My fears for MGS V which arose in the wake of paying Ground Zeroes have dissipated, and I could yet look like a moronic bastard for ever doubting Kojima's mad brilliance. Speaking of which...

 

 

Don't Worry, Amigo - Have Mine:

 

Share Play is one of those Utopian features that everyone historically thought would be incredible, but too fantastical a notion to become reality. Well, it's actually fucking happening - and it's glorious. Any PSN+ member will be able to hop online with a friend for some co-op without even having to download the game, nevermind buying it. That's not just letting someone borrow your lighter whenever they ask for it - that's like giving them the lighter, an entire box of smokes, a tenner, a cheeseburger and telling them to go nuts. To put it simply, Sony are like that overtly friendly, drunken man who has no idea what the fuck he's doing, so he just gives away all of his shit in a hazy, drunken state whenever somebody asks him what time it is.

 

"Free beer and games for aaaaallllll!"

 

I hope Sony don't sober up, as I for one am very much looking forward to being able to quickly taste test a game without the fear of an impending fee or download time. Now, the cynic in me (he's a bastard) could say that, "We should wait to see how many games support the feature before even beginning to rave about it", but if even a handful of games support the feature then that's infinitely better than the direction Sony were previously planning on going - you know the whole "you can't share games ever" policy. So, I feel comfortable in saying this: here's to what is truly a next-generation feature. 

 

 

Michael Ancel and the Infinite Acid Trip:

 

Michael Ancel, the creative mind behind the criminally low-selling Beyond Good & Evil, unveiled his latest game, entitled 'Wild', Ancel is now working with Wild Sheep Studios, and his latest project highlights once again that Ancel is a mad oasis of visual and creative brilliance that goes with whatever happens to be propelled out of his mind geysers. 

 

"Got an idea for a new game, guys."

 

The Trailer for 'Wild' didn't give too much away, but we know this: it'll be an open-world game set 10,000 years in the past and you can inhabit the body of... every animal in the world. Yep, I have no clue how it'll work as a game either, but the premise and Ancel's involvement alone will undoubtedly arrest my attention on this project. If anyone can turn the outlandish into the sublime, it's Michael's mind geysers.

 

 

 

 

What caught your eye at Gamescom? Do you want a Mcgyver box? Let me know.

Edited August 15, 2014 by Gotakibono

[Beyondthegrave07]

Nice read. I missed a lot of announcements and this filled me in. I did see the silent hill announcement and I know my friend is throwing a party. For me, however, the Bloodborne gameplay was enough. It looks like a more badass dragon's dogma IMO.

Edited August 13, 2014 by Beyondthegrave07

[Gotakibono]

Nice read. I missed a lot of announcements and this filled me in. I did see the silent hill announcement and I know my friend is throwing a party. For me, however, the Bloodborne gameplay was enough. It looks like a more badass dragon's dogma IMO.

 

Thanks for reading. I must admit that Bloodbourne is indeed looking badass. It seems like the horror genre is making a real resurgence.

[xVolloxx]

The game i was most hyped by was : Until Dawn !

the game looks awesome and the whole concept sounds great 

 

also the Silent Hills announcement is fantastic

the way it was done and P.T is terrifying  . 

[Carville87]

I don't know who it will benefit but with uncharted launching the same year as tomb raider was it not a great idea by Microsoft

to make it a timed exclusive. With nothing even close to uncharted on an xbox platform

[Malfuras]

I love your blogs. They make for fantastic and enjoyable reading. It's only the second one I've read I'll admit but I just found myself smiling and nodding along to everything. 

I tried to watch Playstation's Gamescom set but i had to give up after a few minutes to put on Peppa Pig. 

I saw Bloodborne, which looked fantastic, but mostly some Indie games that did not appeal to me. I find with Indie's you have to play them to discover how fun they can be. 

But anyway's, I look forward to your next thread!

[Gotakibono]

The game i was most hyped by was : Until Dawn !

the game looks awesome and the whole concept sounds great 

 

also the Silent Hills announcement is fantastic

the way it was done and P.T is terrifying  . 

 

Until Dawn does indeed look amazing; I'll be keeping my eyes on it. 

 

I don't know who it will benefit but with uncharted launching the same year as tomb raider was it not a great idea by Microsoft

to make it a timed exclusive. With nothing even close to uncharted on an xbox platform

 

The fact that Tomb Raider'll eventually be coming to the PS4 anyway doesn't exactly do Microsoft too many favours. 

 

I love your blogs. They make for fantastic and enjoyable reading. It's only the second one I've read I'll admit but I just found myself smiling and nodding along to everything. 

I tried to watch Playstation's Gamescom set but i had to give up after a few minutes to put on Peppa Pig. 

I saw Bloodborne, which looked fantastic, but mostly some Indie games that did not appeal to me. I find with Indie's you have to play them to discover how fun they can be. 

But anyway's, I look forward to your next thread!

 

Thanks a million, I really appreciate the feedback. Bloodbourne has the makings of a damn good game.