Electronic Entertainment Expo: Innovation Unveiled

I regret to inform you that I did not come out with a video post this week as my roommate locked the contact paper I was going to use for a backdrop in his room when he left town. I hope to have "anchored" videos starting next week once I get the backdrop done, but now onto the topic at hand: The Electronic Entertainment Expo.

This isn't going to be some extravagant and fully comprehensive preview guide to E3, but the highlights of the Expo. Let's Begin...

The major innovation stirring interest at E3 this year is the announcement and hands-on-look at Nintendo's next generation gaming system,"Wii U." Nintendo is looking to jump back to the top of the gaming world with the release of this incredibly innovative system, but did they go too far?

Wii U feature trailer released by Nintendo at last years E3 presentation

Many of the reasons the Nintendo Wii did not stack up to the dominate forces of Xbox and Playstation has much to do with the hardware. Nintendo has taken the route to be the "innovate" gaming company and provide gamers with an increasingly interactive experience. They failed in this experience, however,  to capture the core of gamers who still preferred Microsoft's and Sony's console based system. The Nintendo Wii didn't have a strong enough line-up of games, or the processing power and interface to keep up with the traditional consoles. The biggest failure was in the ingenuity. Many gamers want to kick back and relax while they game, and so a completely interactive experience that forced them to stand up and be engaged physically turned away many potential buyers.

A preview of the Legend of Zelda demonstrates Nintendo's
upgrade to HD on with the new Wii U. 

From what I have seen with Wii U, however, it looks as though Nintendo may have finally got it right. The new controller acts as it seems a portable device, allowing you to stop playing your game on the television, and take it with you somewhere else--pure brillance. Nintendo has also made the jump to full HD, and I have got to say that seeing the Legend of Zelda's protagonist Link in HD has got me excited to get my hands on the console.

Facechat features will be included
on Nintendo's new Wii U console.

It appears they took the right steps in ingenuity with features such as video calling and web surfing, really making the Wii U look like a central hub from a complete media experience. I am really excited to see what else Wii U brings to the table when it debuts on the presentation floor on Tuesday.

So the Wii U is the major innovation, but what are the major releases that will be making the headlines next week? I have the answers...

343 industries' Halo 4 is one of E3's most anticipated games

The first title that is sure to draw interest at E3 is Halo 4, the next installment in one of Microsoft's most prolific series. After a major let down from the last game released in the series, fans are looking for Halo 4 to bring back that classic Halo experience they fell in love with as kids. Much of the game layout and story has been kept in the dark, but you better believe that is all about to change with the first hands-on-look at the game coming up next week.

Another major title will be from Call of Duty series, Black Ops 2. I have to be honest I have some intense criticism about this game being staged in the future, and in my opinion a faulty game could kill the dominance Call of Duty has exerted over other titles for the past few years.

One title flying massively under the radar right now would be Resident Evil 6. In an unexpected move the game developers actually pushed up the release date of the game (extremely rare in today's day and age), and with three distinct story modes and an emphasis on hollywood style action this game is sure to thrill.

E3 starts next week and I will be following closely, so be sure to check back often for updates on the Expo.

Tom Clancy's Future Soldier Earns High Marks

The famed Tom Clancy series has struggled to compete in past years since the emergence of FPS giants Call of Duty and Battlefield, but the release of the highly anticipated Ghost Recon: Future Soldier might be just what the doctor ordered to get this strategy-shooter series back on track.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon:
Future Soldier debuted on May 22nd.

The latest installment in the Ghost Recon series has been almost five years in the making, and after several drawbacks was finally released May 22nd. The game takes the framework from Ghost Recon: Advance Warfighter and expands on it, adding a slew of intelligent new features. The additions to the game, such as active camouflage and complete weapon customization make for a more refined shooter experience. The game creators leave at your disposal complete control of your unit--allowing you to deliver precise and quick orders during combat. Also, the flexibility to map-out how you want to complete a mission provides a fresh experience every time you play.

One of the great new features is complete weapon
customization.

The control interface for the game is splendid--allowing you to move seamlessly from cover to cover unlike any shooter to date. Although 3rd-person shooter games generally give you greater control of your character's movement, Future soldier steps it up a notch by giving you the ability to employ a unique set of dives, spins, hurdles, and rolls. This type of player control fits perfectly into the multiplayer experience the developers have sought to build-up throughout the Ghost Recon series, and it looks like they finally got it right.

The multiplayer game types are completely team-based--a refreshing change of pace from the flurry of run-and-gun FPS titles ruling the market in past years. Even the basic Team Death Match mode has a unique flow. The game incorporates an abundance of futuristic military technology, placing emphasis on utilization of the technology along coupled with quick communication and coordination amongst teammates. Perhaps the most fun game-mode is Decoy. In this game-type two teams work to either defend or attack three different targets--the twist: only one is the real objective and the other two targets are "decoys." Neither team knows which target is the real objective, and so a combination of luck, quick recoveries, and methodical thinking make for gripping gameplay.

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Official Multiplayer Trailer

With a set of expansive new features as well as the focus on teamplay--Ghost Recon: Future Soldier delivers that perfect combination of fast-paced action and thought-provoking strategy that has been lacking from the Shooter scene. With innovative gameplay, it's no one this game finished in the high ends of the rating scale while earning itself an IGN editors' choice award.

Ghost Recon: Future Solider earned high marks by gaming review leader IGN,
but it also scored well on other major gaming sources.
Check out the complete list of ranks at computerandvideogames.com.

Check back frequently for the latest in video games, movies, and tech trends. Next week #NerdLife plans to make the transition to a purely video-based platform. The new platform is be designed to deliver the latest news with more engaging content at a quicker pace.

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