After years of threatening to go, I’m finally at E3. Technically, I’m not there right now- I’m sitting in a hotel. Also, I’ve only actually been to the LA Convention Center to pick up my pass. E3 doesn’t start until tomorrow.

Today was all about media briefings and press conferences. I went to two of them, the Xbox and EA shows. Continue reading So, I’m at E3 →

It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here. Watch Dogs launched here in Sydney almost 24 hours ago. Being one of the first countries for the sun to rise on Ubisoft’s latest effort made for a rather unique embargo situation.

I wasn’t allowed to talk about the game until 5pm, 17 hours after the game’s midnight launch. Wierd, but handy, as my review copy didn’t turn up until noon. Continue reading Watch_Dogs: PS4 first impressions →

I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for fighting games. It was Tekken on the original PlayStation that reintroduced me to video games way back in the day. But despite great 3D graphics, inspired – but questionable – body physics (I’m looking at you Dead or Alive) they never seemed to transcend their arcade origins.

EA Sports Fight Night Round 3 on the Xbox 360 finally gave me a fighting game with two feet firmly planted on the grown. Realistic, visceral, and brutal. Fight Night Round 3, its successor Fight Night Round 4 and 2011’s Fight Night Champion broke the barrier from fighting game to fighting simulator.

Later this year I think EA Sports are going to break that barrier some more. Continue reading EA Sports UFC: developer interview →

I left the EB Expo in Sydney last year with five interviews under my belt, two more than I’d intended to do. One of those interviews was with Kevin Shortt, the story designer for the much anticipated Watch Dogs.

Like most gamers, Watch Dogs was on my day one next-gen console game list. It was shock to hear, a little over a week after my interview with Kevin, that the game had been pushed back definitely. Continue reading Watch_Dogs: an interview with story designer Kevin Shortt →

Golf- spoils a good walk, apparently. I wouldn’t know as my golfing experience doesn’t extend further than a bit of seaside putt-put. I do, however, enjoy the old game of golf on the PC or console.

Tiger Woods (or PGA Tour) has dominated the popular golfing sim genre for the last twenty-year. With EA Sports hanging up the golf bag for a while, their frequent collaborators, Canadian developers HB Studio have stepped up to the tee with The Golf Club. Continue reading The Golf Club PC Early Access Preview →

You’ve got to be one soulless bastard to not like Final Fantasy. Don’t get me wrong the series isn’t without it’s issues. Some of the games do have more than a smattering of pretentious bollocks about them, and I’m not even talking about FFXIII’s twenty-hour tutorial. Continue reading Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn – an interview with the director, Naoki Yoshida →

It seems with each Elder Scrolls game Bethesda try and outdo the last with an extravagant premium collector’s edition. For the franchise’s first foray into the online realm, The Elder Scrolls Online, they have pulled out all the stops with their Imperial Edition.

I remember having to put up with just a little book, “A Pocket Guide to the Empire”, a “making of” doco and a coin for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion CE. Still, I’m not complaining, the 200-odd hours I spent in Cyridill rank as some the most fun I’ve had playing a video game.

For The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Bethesda delivered a collector’s edition in a huge box containing a massive statue of the dragon Alduin perched atop a word wall from the game. The executive package also contained a lavish faux leather-bound tome packed full of art and designs. Continue reading The Elder Scrolls Online Imperial Edition Unboxing →

I coughed and spluttered my way through the last iteration of the classic Wolfenstein franchise. The PlayStation 3 game, just called Wolfenstein, was a capable effort that just lacked something. When I heard that Bethesda were going to have another go at it I rolled my eyes. Then I actually had a go on it at a recent preview event in Sydney.

Wolfenstein: The New Order continues the story of “Office of Secret Actions” operative William “B.J.” Blazkowicz, from the previous games, as he battles against the dark forces of the Nazi SS Paranormal Division. Continue reading Hands-on with Wolfenstein: The New Order →