Eurogamer Expo 2009 - Leeds/London

[Brad]

Went to this yesterday. A great day. Highlight was David Cage's presentation of Heavy Rain. Looks fantastic. The version he was playing looked quite a bit better that what was playable on the show floor (the cologne demo).

Anyway, Cage was fantastic and also pretty funny. Heavy rain is my most anticipated game now.

[ezee ryder]

You were in that developer session too?! That was jam packed, me and my mates had to stand at the back.

Oh and I agree, David Cage presented himself and the game very well. He should really do a tutorial video again for Heavy Rain

[Tig]

I trotted along on the offchance I could buy a ticket at the door. and I did

I was a bit annoyed that I missed David Cage, but I attended the Splash Damage talk which was fairly cool. Following that, I completely failed to get in to Valve's presentation- the conference room was inundated by a nerd army well in advance of the start time. Did anyone make it in?



Overall I was really, really impressed by the event. There was loads of cool stuff on display, and the queues weren't too bad either.

I played:
God of War 3
Heavy Rain
LittleBigPlanet PSP (on a PSP Go, nach)
NSMB Wii
Red Steel 2
Raving Rabbids
Borderlands
Bayonetta
Split Second
Joe Danger
Plain Sight (on Dezm0nd's recommendation )



I also saw the new "Avatar" game getting played on a big screen with the RealD 3D system. The 3D effect was amazing- possibly the best I've seen. It really did look like there was a big model airship, a few feet wide, hovering in front of me- surrounded by 3D smoke trails twisting around it, with shapnel occasionally exploding in front into my eyes. I've seen cinemas with dodgier 3D systems tbh.

So, very cool tech... but the game itself looked nothing to write home about. The poor man's Lost Planet 2 probably.


For purposes of comparison, I also tried out some random racing game using Nvidia's 3D glasses. From this I've concluded that the RealD system is the way to go. The Nividia specs seemed a bit flaky in comparison: the "active shutter" technology tended to unsych, flickering on and off. RealD's passive specs with polarized lenses seemed more practical and reliable. Does anyone want to faff about putting batteries in their glasses?

Anyone get to try Joe Danger at all? If not have a look out for it from Hellogames.

It seemed very very nice.

The presentation of the game is charming- it was noticeably more polished than any other indie title on display.
To me it felt a lot like a Nintendo game. Imagine if Nintendo updated and evolved the classic Excitebike title, in the same way they've done for SMB and Super Punch Out.... It would probably turn out a lot like Joe Danger.


There's a bit more to the gameplay than I was expecting: you use the triggers for accelerating, braking and reversing (which all work in midair, Mario-style). Then you have boost, tricks, and a bunny hop (which combines as a crouch when held: essential to avoid getting clobbered by obstacles at head height). There's also a punch button for whacking your mates in multi.

Coupled with the constant need to balance your bike with the left thumbstick, as well as change lanes and pull wheelies, it's a fair bit to think about. I suspect this game will get hard as nails, in the best possible way


I had a great chat with Ryan from Hello Games too. he seemed like a really cool guy.


I give Eurogamer's event an Edge 9.

[Brad]

I agree re: Avatar. The price you paid though was half the framerate of the game when not in 3d mode and 'visible scan lines'.

[Richie_uk]

I got the chance to play avitar "3d" for a short time before the guy was doing the official "demo" when I put the glasses on the fist time it was a bit strange for me, my eyes could not get used to the dynamic and I had real trouble judging distance when shooting the bad alien people/things. I asked the demo man if this "3d" will work on a normal HD LCD and he didnt know... :-)

[Brad]

That TV was a regular LCD mate (I had a good nosey around it!). Talk of needing new TVs is based around the need for 60fps which means your TV needs to actually display 120fps. Avatar was running at about 15 fps on that TV. The non-3d version seemed to be about 30 thus proving* my hypothesis.




*Everything above exists mostly in my head but I think I'm probably right lol

[Tig]

oh, I didn't know about the halved framerate thing. That's quite a serious drawback.


a extra point scored for Nvidia's kit I suppose?

[Richie_uk]

ahhhhh I seeeee very intresting, well I hope this tech takes off i just hope my brain can understand "3d" better it was proberly down to the lighting in the place. Will prob pick it up to see what its like in december. does the game use the same "tech" as the avitar move ? as I've baught tickets for imax :-)

[Brad]

oh, I didn't know about the halved framerate thing. That's quite a serious drawback.


a extra point scored for Nvidia's kit I suppose?

Nope. Their kit needs a 120Hz display as well. I think the Real3D system is better because the glasses are simpler if nothing else. There's nothing to get out of synch and multiplayer on the sofa gaming doesn't need multiple sets of expensive glasses.

Bottom line though is that to get 60fps Gran turismo you need a PS3. To get it in 3D at 60fps you're going to need 2 PS3s and a TV that can do 120Hz. Unless I have totally misunderstood the technology lol!