Events
E3 Day Three – Indiecade
As I reflected on the time I spent in IndieCade, I realized that indie developers really were some of the hardest-working people in the industry. Their tireless efforts to provide fun, novel experiences with gameplay showed through the passion with which they described their projects, and the unique concepts underpinning their designs. I honestly look forward with more enthusiasm to some of the incomplete projects I’d seen at IndieCade than virtually any other game I’d seen during my entire E3 trip. … read more
E3 Day Two – Square Enix
With an enormous high definition screen belching out promo footage from their plethora of games on the show floor, I couldn’t miss Square Enix’s display area if I tried. Having been a fan of the company’s Final Fantasy franchise for some time, and enticed by some of the recent acquisitions for the publisher, I trundled over to check out some of the new titles, including Hitman: Absolution, Sleeping Dogs and Tomb Raider, for myself. … read more
E3 Day Two – Capcom
I made my way to the line where Capcom was handing out tickets to demo their reboot of the Devil May Cry series, DMC. Ninja Theory’s decision to shake up their designs raised the hackles on more than a few fans of the series, but being a fan myself, I couldn’t give up the chance to check it out. … read more
E3 Day Two – LucasArts
LucasArts pulled the gathered members of the press into a theater themed after the interior of a Star Wars space shuttle. Through the windows, you could see a gradual descent through a seemingly endless series of layers, diving down deeper into what we soon learned was Coruscant. Hovering in the main screen were the words “Star Wars 1313.” … read more
E3 Day One – Bethesda
When I flashed my press pass at the reception desk, I was corralled into an area where replicas of various arms and armor from Tamriel, the setting of The Elder Scrolls series, could be found. Like any Bethesda game, these were accompanied by lengthy descriptions of the historical and cultural significance of each item. Beyond them sat a throne, flanked by Nordic and Elven armors and an Elder Scroll, laid out on a drafting table. It was here that Bethesda presented their new games, The Elder Scrolls Online and Dishonored. … read more
E3 Day One – Gaikai
Lots of rumors have been circulating about Gaikai’s alliances in the coming wave of cloud gaming. Some have said the company was looking to start partnerships with major game companies, becoming a provider for full-length games. However, in a small cubicle high above the din of South Hall’s unfettered revelry, two guys stood in front of modestly-sized screens, explaining the effects of streamlining the demo process for video games. … read more
E3 Day One – Nintendo
All gathered seemed to agree that so far, this was a software year at E3 – where third-party developers would outshine the major platforms even in their own presentations. A few held out hope for Nintendo’s continuous hyping of its new platform, the Wii U, to overtake the tepid showing from its competitors, and a throng of photographers gathered around its new tablet/controller, lying on a pedestal at the front of the stage. … read more
Who Likes Short Shorts?! Film Fest Reviews
The Pride Festival wasn’t the only place to peep some decent short shorts this weekend. Just up the hill at the Post Theatre, the Who Likes Short Shorts? Film Festival brought its own blend of community, artistry and passion to the Wasatch Front. … read more
Electric Daisy Carnival: It’s Not a Rave, It’s an Experience
From the carnival rides and eccentric performers, to the inspiring art pieces placed all over the festival grounds and the most amazing lights and lasers that could light all of New York City, the Electric Daisy Carnival is not only my favorite EDM event of the year, but number one in the industry. … read more
All Systems Fail, Gnawing Suspicion @ Earth Jam at Liberty...
As surreal as it was to watch All Systems Fail shred in the park on a sunny day, in the midst Earth Jam, a pro-environment and pro-paisley festival, I could still pound my foot against the grass and get into the pure political spite of those years long past. All Systems Fail takes all the best things from the DIY ethic … With short, fast songs, it’s easy to bob your head along with the beat, take a swig of ginger ale, and keep on bobbing. … read more