E3 2003 Afterthoughts

By Steven Hopper

I noticed quite a few new trends starting up.  Like Michael, I also saw a rise in the amount of MMOs hitting the market.  The phenomenon is beginning to transcend the RPG genre and is beginning to get such entries as Planetside (a new first person shooter MMO) and The Matrix Online.  Also, more and more games are beginning to shy away from linear gameplay.  This could be attributed to the increasing popularity with the “see all, do all” gameplay mechanics of MMOs, but in any case games are becoming less and less dependent on a single storyline progression.  The popularity of such non-linear games like GTA: Vice City and Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind are solidifying these ideals in the gaming community.  While most games coming out are still featuring a main storyline, they are not really adhering to it, and developers are trying to stress how unimportant a main storyline is to a game. This means that gamers could be feeling an unprecedented freedom in many new games coming out soon.

Another new fad that I saw occurring in many games is the widespread use of Bullet-Time.  For those who don’t know, Bullet-Time is a process pioneered by the PC game Max Payne that allows gamers to slow down time to gain a better focus in the game’s intense action sequences.  This process has been copied and subsequently refined in many varied new titles coming out soon, from Charlie’s Angels and 007:  Everything or Nothing to Enter the Matrix and, of course, Max Payne 2.  While it will sooner or later just begin to feel played (like any fad in the industry), Bullet-Time has gotten a surge in popularity among game developers and should be put to good use in the coming months.

At E3, I noticed a few nice surprises.  For one, Final Fantasy XI was much better than I thought it was going to be.  Don’t get me wrong; I’m a huge Final Fantasy fan.  However, I am not a huge fan of MMORPGs.  So, naturally, I was a little upset to find that the eleventh title in one of my most beloved game series was going to be an MMORPG without a focus on a main story (and costing ten bucks a month, to boot).  However, upon playing the game at E3, I was more than impressed when I got a chance to play the game.  Even though it’s MMO, it still feels like Final Fantasy.  The artwork is in league with previous installments in the series, the graphics are gorgeous, and the gameplay is extremely fun and addicting.  The game is laden with Final Fantasy goodness, like Chocobos and great music.  Plus, the new job system allows for a great level of character customizability as you can switch jobs on the fly.  I find myself justifying the extra 10 dollars a month a little bit more every day.

Another great surprise was Far Cry, a new FPS game in development at Crytek for Ubi Soft.  The game will feature excellent graphics and lighting effects paired with amazingly adaptable AI for a unique gaming experience not to be missed.  The AI is completely unscripted, meaning that it never does the exact same thing twice.  The enemies in the game will summon each other for help, radio for reinforcements, and follow leaders, all of which looks pretty incredible in action.

This was my first E3, and sure enough I was left both amazed and exhausted when it was over.  It certainly is overwhelming to all the senses, and once you’re there, nothing can suppress the animalistic urge to play every game you possibly can.  It was great to play games that I’ve been anticipating for a long time, like the new Final Fantasy games and anything at the Nintendo Booth, as well as exciting new games that I hadn’t even heard of, like Far Cry and Drakengard.  E3 was an incredible, unique experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything, even if it did cost me a few good nights of sleep.

Share | Digg This | Glink It

---