OXCGN’s EA Showcase Snapshot: Crysis 3, SimCity, and The Devil’s Cartel

PREVIEW_ea showcase 2012

OXCGN’s EA Showcase Snapshot: Crysis 3, SimCity, and The Devil’s Cartel

A showcase of EA’s Q1 2013 lineup

by Arthur Kotsopoulos

©2012 Arthur Kotsopoulos

ea logo oxcgnIt’s astounding to think that all the games at EA Australia’s Showcase will be released in Q1 of 2013. These range from the beautiful title Crysis 3, to Insomniac‘s first multiplatform title and new IP known as FUSE.

The line up is disappointingly filled with shooters, which I have to admit is starting to make this last stretch of current generation consoles over-crowded. With that being said though, EA do have Maxis‘s SimCity, my highlight of the showcase.

With FUSE and Dead Space 3 being the bigger titles of the line up, we’ve decided to bring back the snapshot format OXCGN utilized during previous events of this year.

This way, you’re able to digest more important information that we feel would interest you.

Get a glimpse of 2013!

Copycat Games: Is stealing gameplay ideas from others evolution?

Copycat Games

Is stealing gameplay ideas from others evolution?

by Daniel Geikowski

©2012 Daniel Geikowski

Evolution?

A little from Column A, and a little from Column B.

Originality in games has always been an important factor.

Originality allows a game to stand out from the crowd. Over time, games have tended to borrow elements or settings from other games, seemingly gaining inspiration from other titles.

This isn’t to say that games are blatantly copying elements or features from alternate titles, instead it can be argued that it is simply video games evolving. Elements and features are being reworked and refined over time, to suit the specific game’s style.

Is this game truly original?

Originality is far from dead.

New narratives and settings are being created all the time. However, almost anywhere you look nowadays, new games on the horizon contain some familiar features.

E3 this year demonstrated a lot of common elements , with few additions. Here are some strong examples of games ‘borrowing’ from others.

E3 games that ‘borrowed’ ideas here

E3 2012: Backstage Pass: Confessions of an E3 virgin

E3 2012: Backstage Pass: Confessions of an E3 virgin

What really happens behind the dazzle

by Nicholas Capozzoli

©2012 Nicholas Capozzoli

Other-Nick made me do this.

A lot of work in games journalism is undertaken on a part-time basis, and I’m no exception.

I’ll confess I’m relatively new to the industry, with barely half a year of writing about it to my name.

So when OXCGN offered me the chance to be part of the live coverage team for the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), I was surprised, and flattered.

Needless to say, I hadn’t expected such an opportunity so early into my writing career.

I knew right away that I wanted to share the day-to-day of the experience, somehow.  A journal of the trip seemed like a good idea.

Something to share with the uninitiated, those in the same position I was just weeks before.

The plan is also to use E3 as a chance to get a feel for the industry, which is probably a bit like trying to gain an understanding of fluid dynamics by hurling yourself off Niagara Falls.

Also, your swimming experience begins and ends with having once seen the movie Splash.  So yeah, there’s a 64% chance that I won’t survive past day 1.

I ended up experiencing the underside of L.A., the glitz and outrageousness, the celebrities and parties, and all the madness of the show.

And even a bit about games too.

Down the rabbit hole we go here

E3 2012: Borderlands 2 Hands-on Preview: Is It Only A Refined Texture Upgrade?

E3 2012: Borderlands 2 Hands-On Preview

Is it only a refined texture upgrade?

by Nicholas Laborde

©2012 Nicholas Laborde

Few games have the style, character, snarky sense of humor and balls-to-the-wall outlandish craziness that Borderlands did.

To have a successful sequel, Gearbox needed to capitalized on every single aspect that made the original title great… which, in retrospect, was quite a lot of things.

I’m pleased to say that Borderlands 2 improves on everything that made the original great, while introducing a hefty amount of new features and gameplay upgrades.

At the core, though, it’s still the same game. Is it a true step up, or just a refined texture upgrade?

Borderlands 2 preview here

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