Video Games Thread - E3 2018 edition

[PerrySimm]

The annual Electronic Entertainment Expo has wrapped up, which is a good moment to catch up on computer and console games. Here are a few interesting science fiction/fantasy games being talked up right now -- what are your thoughts?


Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red)
The developer of The Witcher series takes on the Cyberpunk 2020 setting. Might actually keep an eye on this one, it's got to be better than Shadowrun.


Fallout 76 (Bethesda)
Fallout as an MMO. The mechanics tweaks they're making could be interesting. The setting year of 2076 2102 is the earliest yet out of the mainline Fallout games.


Starfield (Bethesda)
Space game, since it's Bethesda highly likely to have strong RPG elements. Hopefully it strives to be better than Mass Effect.


The Elder Scrolls VI (Bethesda)
Speculation is that the new episode will be set in High Rock.

*Edit: Fallout 76 year

[SlackerinDeNile]

Fallout 76 is set in 2102 by the way. It would make no sense for it to take place in 2076 as the apocalypse had not happened yet.

Cyberpunk 2077 (ironic that it takes place in the year the Fallout world went to complete shit) looks really good, I'm hoping that it doesn't have fantasy elements like Shadowrun however.

At this point Starfield could be anything, I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be another Prey or similar smaller scale story. If they go for a space opera type universe I hope they make it more like Babylon 5 or The Expanse with the nature of the human technology and have any aliens that show up be weirder and more creative than we're currently used to, like in the Half-Life series.

[PerrySimm]

Ah, naturally the 2076 stuff is hype/special edition box related. Fixed.

Found this complete list of games exhibited at this year's E3 at IGN. There might be a couple others of note, like, say, Anthem.

Cyberpunk 2077 has been 30 years in the making, since first appearing on the bookshelves at the games shop. Mike Pondsmith has some fascinating insight into the creative process and the resurgence of the cyberpunk aesthetic in general.

[SlackerinDeNile]

I'm gonna take a wait and see approach to Anthem. I love the concept but I'm hoping that Bioware learnt something from Mass Effect Andromeda and that EA doesn't force them to create another Destiny type game.

[Fixer]

Cyberpunk 2077 has me the most hyped at the moment.
Big CP-2020 fan, where I got my internet handle from. Running a tabletop campaign for the RPG group right now.

More than that though, CD Projekt Red has a great track record at the moment and since they're not being pressured to a release date by a publisher we're going to see it once the developers are happy that it is done.

Add onto that the excellent reviews the test gameplay got from YouTubers at E3. I've got seriously high expecations.

[Darth Wedgius]

My better half has mentioned Fallout as a possible future game to get me into, and seems to be moderately excited about it. On the other hand, last week I just bought Batman: Arkham Asylum; it's safe to say I tend to be a bit behind the curve.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

Okay, why did they have a guy in a somewhat uncomfortable outfit come out to play a musical instrument? What does that have to do with Games?

[Admiral X]

What guy?

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1L79cl7q3U

[PerrySimm]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1L79cl7q3U

Traditional costume and a flute is actually a pretty high-brow approach to spicing up the presentation. Seeing that on stage makes it unambiguous even to the most distracted journalist peering at a cell phone that Ghost of Tsushima is an historical adventure.

Certainly, the true test of an E3 presentation is whether or not actual gameplay is involved. But Sony showed some of that, too, so really it was a solid presentation overall.

Conversely, the Bethesda keynote was all sizzle and no steak, launched with a poorly timed surprise concert from Andrew W.K. that didn't get anyone too excited for RAGE 2 or anything that followed. Just announcing Elder Scrolls VI, and Starfield, was enough to generate my anticipation, so in that respect, it was a 90-minute show with two minutes of content.

Compare and contrast with the Devolver Digital keynote, which was way over the top. A distracting waste of time that was fun! And fun is what games are supposed to be, even if Scum is of no interest to me in particular.