What To Expect From Scott at E3 2019
This will be my third year attending the biggest video game convention in the US. I look forward to it every year. It’s a joy to see the spectacle on the show floor, and it’s a privilege to get face-to-face with developers and publishers that make my favorite hobby. E3 2019 may be lacking some of the big names, but there’s still plenty of awesome things to see. Zack and I have been booking appointments for the last several weeks, and here’s a list of things that you can expect me to talk about during our E3 week of podcast coverage.
Dying Light 2
One of my favorite games I saw at last year’s E3 was Dying Light 2 from Techland Publishing. Even though I didn’t play the original, I was blown away by what I saw in the demo. We’ve recently learned that the developer has partnered with Square Enix for distribution of the open world zombie game. In fact, it will be shown at Square Enix’s press conference on Monday, June 10th at 8:00 PM (CST).
The sequel takes place fifteen years after the original with a “modern dark ages” setting. This is shaping up to be one of my most anticipated games of the conference. Stay tuned for more details next week, as Zack and I will both be attending this meeting. In the mean time, here’s the most recent trailer:
Natsume
Japanese developer Natsume invited me to their booth on the first day of the conference to see three of their games: Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure, Cosmic Defenders, and Harvest Moon: Mad Dash. We have no details on the Harvest Moon spinoff at this time, but here are the press releases for the other two games:
“After meeting a mysterious man at a museum, three college friends set off on a summer road trip to find the elusive fish he mentions to them. But what’s the story behind this fish? And for that matter, who’s the man who sent them on their adventure in the first place? He certainly is a unique individual, to say the very least! In any case, working together, these friends will unlock all these secrets and more in Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure!”
“Cosmic Defenders is an upcoming Nintendo Switch game being developed by indie developer Fiery Squirrel that will be launching later this year. Cosmic Defenders is a 2D fast-paced revolving shooter about a group of unconventional heroes using the power of nature to stop chaotic aliens from taking over the universe. Cooperate with other guardians, protect the galaxy from the wicked, and restore peace!”
VoltEdge TX70 Wireless Headset
Games won’t be the only thing I’ll be checking out on the show floor. Hardware accessory company VoltEdge invited to me their booth to try out their upcoming model of gaming headphones. I don’t have an image of the new hardware, but here are some specs from their press release:
The TX70 is an ultra-low latency 2.4 GHz wireless headset that offers a price never seen in the gaming audio niche. With a focus on remarkable design, audio quality and comfort, the TX70 delivers a dramatic value offering that will appeal to the full spectrum of gamers. The TX70 and other VoltEdge products will be available for testing at Booth #433 West Hall.
The VoltEdge TX70 is a first-generation wireless headset compatible with PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC’s. The TX70 provides the video game community with an economical, yet technically advanced alternative to the current wireless headsets on the market. Featuring uncompromised performance, the TX70 is equipped with temper tuned 50mm drivers, added EQ mode and a sleek comfortable design complimented by high-quality cushions wrapped in cooling athletic mesh.
“For the price of a video game you can now have a high-quality wireless headset,” said Chris Richards, co-founder and CEO of VoltEdge. “We challenged ourselves to bring the most sought after feature in headsets – wireless – to all gamers, and to do it while enhancing sound performance and comfort. We feel very confident that VoltEdge will set a new standard for the industry in terms of advanced design combined with affordability.”
Phantom: Covert Ops
A PR rep from theRednerGroup contacted me asking me to meet with developer nDreams to see an unannounced game for the Oculus. I blindly booked the appointment despite not having a clue what the game was. On May 21st, the developer unveiled Phantom: Covert Ops, which is teased in the trailer below. We still know very little about this title, but (as the name suggests) there will be a lot of stealth involved. I’m very intrigued, especially now that we have access to Chris Behrensmeyer’s Oculus Quest. I’ll have hands-on with this game, so expect to hear more next week.
Killer Queen Black
Killer Queen is one of the best modern-day arcade experiences I’ve ever had. If you can track down one of these 5-on-5 cabinets at an arcade near you, I can’t recommend it enough. When Nintendo unveiled the Switch version of the game during their 2018 press conference, I was immediately excited. My hope is that when this game releases, we have a fantastic community game night to play. Zack and I will both have hands-on with the game when we meet with developer Liquid Bit. Here’s the trailer:
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince
Of all the game series I’ve missed over the years, Trine feels like one that’s right up my alley. I’m honestly not sure why I’ve never gotten around to it. Thankfully, publisher Modus Games invited to me to view a presentation of their upcoming Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince, as well as have a 30-minute hands-on demo of the cooperative adventure series. The game looks gorgeous, and I can’t wait to report back on my introduction to a series I’m kicking myself for skipping up to this point. Check out the trailer below:
Keen
One of the best parts about visiting E3 is checking out a great number of indie games that have potential. Keen from developer Cat Nigiri caught my eye immediately. As the trailer below will show, this game is a tactical turn-based sliding puzzle adventure game. Here’s the description from the press release:
“Embark on an epic journey to save Kim’s village from the undead. Explore and solve puzzles spread across interconnected rooms in maze-like dungeons. Dash across maps on roller skates, taking down enemies in your path. Discover secret items, unlock new gadgets, gain special powers, then slice through bosses.”
I’ll have hands-on with this game as well, so stay tuned next week for more impressions.
Creatures in the Well
It’s no secret that I’m a massive fan of pinball. When I saw the trailer below, I was immediately intrigued by another pinball adventure game. I’ve been itching for something like Yoku’s Island Express for a while now, and this just might be it. Here’s the info from the press release from Flight School Studio:
“Creature in the Well is a top down pinball inspired hack and slash dungeon crawler. As the last remaining BOT-C unit, venture deep into a desert mountain to restore power to an ancient facility, haunted by a desperate Creature. Uncover and upgrade powerful gear in order to save the city of Mirage from a deadly sandstorm.”
3 Games from Rebellion
I’ve been invited to developer Rebellion‘s booth again this year to see three of their upcoming games, one of which is still unannounced. The other two are Evil Genius 2 and Sniper Elite VR. Although I know nothing more than the titles at this point, I think it’s safe to say that the former is a sequel to the original Evil Genius, and the latter brings the Sniper Elite series to the PSVR platform. Stay with us for more details as they become available.
Unannounced Game from Square Enix
Zack was able to pull some magic and scored us a behind-closed-doors meeting for an upcoming game from Square Enix. While we don’t know for certain, we’re hopeful that this might be the rumored Avengers game that we’ve been expecting for quite a while. Keep your fingers crossed that this dream comes true. We’ll both be attending this meeting together.
The Last Friend
Late last year, we had the privilege of interviewing Allesandro Biollo of Stone Bot Studio about their upcoming title, The Last Friend. It’s a charming tower defense game where you help protect your dog friends. It’s one I’m excited to see mostly because of the passion I heard from Mr. Biollo during his interview. I genuinely can’t wait to meet him in person. Check out the trailer here:
Lemnis Gate
Listeners of our podcast know that I’m not a massive multiplayer gamer. It takes a lot for me to sit up and take notice. When Ratloop Games Canada approached me about their upcoming title, Lemnis Gate, I was fascinated by the concept. The video below gives a much better understanding of how this game works than I could put into words myself. But trust me when I say that the concept is brilliant. And I can’t wait to put the execution to the test next week.
But Wait…There’s MORE!
Rest assured, there will be plenty more for me to see at E3 2019. I’ve got another week or so to book appointments, and I’ve also carved out a ton of time to check out the show floor while I’m there. Also, be sure to check out Zack’s article showing what appointments he’s booked for the expo. And don’t miss our upcoming E3 2019 episodes where he and I will talk about everything we saw every day as well as cover the press conferences.
