Unwinnable

A simplistic way to determine how a third-person-behind-the-back-camera game will play based on visual observation:

When the camera sits behind the character, look at his size. If he’s lithe and spry (and maybe Japanese), or Kratos, he’s going to be using melee attacks (ranged weapons are there to juggle enemies). If he’s big and bulky and can’t jump, then he’s probably going to fight at range, with melee being a last (and spectacularly bloody) resort. (more…)

Watching this trailer on the floor at E3 2011, I wasn’t sure if Warhammer 40K: Space Marine was going to be a good game, but I sure as hell thought it was going to be an awesome one. Even if the rest of the experience is forgettable, I know I will be happy cutting an Ork up with a chainsword just once. (more…)

This was my first E3 experience. Heck, it was my first experience in California.

And, courtesy of Stu’s “One Night in Los Angeles,” you all know by now that I spent one not-so-delightful evening in California Hospital (yes, that’s its real name), instead of at the delightful Downtown Sheraton Hotel.

It wasn’t that horrible. Turns out, when you tell medical folks in L.A. that you want out early the next morning so you can visit E3, they get excited and tell all their other late-night medical buddies. Before you know it, an Asian doctor is visiting you. You figure he’s just replacing the Indian doctor who wants to keep you overnight for “observation.” But really he’s stopping by to find out what your early impressions of E3 are (that’s a true story).

Another true story? In between that one strange evening and now, I found time to ponder my favorite non-Wii U and non-Vita E3 2011 moments. You know, for posterity. (more…)