E3 2012: Nintendo Direct Presentation Summary and Thoughts

Once again, E3 predictions and pre-show streams are flying across the web. As a result, everyone and their nonspecific grandpa (we'll get to that) is freaking out about who's going to showcase what. But truth be told, this is likely to be a slow year for all the major "hardcore" players tied in with Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo, however, has other plans.

Satoru Iwata recently presented a stream via Nintendo Direct where he discussed some of the features for the upcoming Wii U, Nintendo's ultimate weapon (or so we assume) in the continual console wars.

Between awkwardly familiar looking remote controls, and even more awkwardly disturbing possibilities with the Wii U controller's camera, here are some highlights from the brief yet satisfying presentation.

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E3 2012: Microsoft Keynote Live Blog

PPR Three Year Anniversary Show

Somehow, against all odds and objections Press Pause Radio has made it to their three year anniversary. GeorgieboysAXE, Toast and Serraxor party in style along with all of you as we celebrate this monumental occasion. We will be enjoying adult beverages and watching perhaps the "baddest" movie about video games, The Wizard. Follow along with the crew as we play The Wizard drinking game and try to survive through the entire movie. The rules are outlined after the jump, play along and don't forget to respond via our social media outlets or on the site, and demand that we never do this again. Thanks again for three great years, and to many more in the future!

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QCF: Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode II

 

Just shy of two years and having some releases in between, Sonic Team and Dimps join up again to release the next installment of their episodic series, Sonic The Hedgehog 4. Touted as the spiritual successor to Sonic CD, Episode II promises an experience catering to both new and old fans (the way Episode I intended to). But after two years, is it really worth the same excitement we wasted the first time around? Yeah, actually -- it’s worth that and a bit more.

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Akai Katana REVIEW (Xbox 360) - Bullet Heaven, Episode 51

After a fairly lengthy hiatus, Daeruna's back, and we can safely say: sometimes being wrong is the best thing ever! With Europe getting so much shooting love with games like DoDonPachi Resurrection, Rising Star Games brings Cave's Akai Katana to the Xbox 360, and shows that there can still be retail-released Shmups in North America after the questionable Otomedius. But is it worth your time? Oh man, sit down and "GET READY"!!

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Life Through the Pixel Glass: Independent Art Look

Because she’s feeling a little under the weather, I’ll be covering LTTPG for Squiddy this time around. Since I had the reins behind the feature for this post, I decided to shed the spotlight on two artists I’ve discovered on the web that possess this innate vision in their portrayal of video game inspired art. Their art spoke to me on levels that moved me to share their work with everyone this week.

The first artist is Darick Maasen, a 30-year-old modern artist residing in Chicago. Darick creates several different Pop-influenced art pieces, from the nerdy side of things with canvas and sketch work, to crafted constructs using materials like wood and taxidermy animals! Darick’s work has been featured at the event I AM 8BIT, and is slowly taking the net by storm with his continue work on constructs and sketches. You guys and gals can find his work on his website here. Also, make sure to fan him on Facebook if you’re cool like that.

The next artist is a fellow by the name of Jed Henry, an author and illustrator of children’s books. Jed has recently taken it upon him on his personal Twitter to start a series of Ukiyo influenced Nintendo art depicting games and characters from the 8-bit and 16-bit era. As you can see, Jed’s already done Samus, Megaman, and Link. He plans to expand the his portfolio with a sneak peak at his next work based on Mario Kart. Mr. Henry plans to open a Kickstarter campaign soon to help fund the series, and plans on making the pieces more authentic with Kanji lettering and talk of actually doing traditional woodblock design from which Ukiyo originates. You can find his work on Tumblr, where he works to not only update his series as often as he can, but will also answer any questions you may have. 

QCF: Max Payne 3

In São Paulo, Brazil, we find the former lawman Max Payne wallowing in his usual grizzled disposition towards life and the current state of affairs he finds himself in. Payne is providing his services as direct high-end security for the illustrious Branco family against any who mean them any harm.

Picking up nine years since the last entry to the series, Rockstar Vancouver plans to take Max to new grounds and deliver features, both familiar and new for the modern generation. However, with the absence of Sam Lake’s writing and a new studio taking the reins, one has to wonder if Max Payne is long for this world, one that’s been overwhelmingly saturated with shooters during his leave of absence.

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PPR 57

After massive Games Clubs and special event shows such as PAX East and GDC, Press Pause Radio finally returns to normal with Episode 57. On the show this week the group discusses several games that have been reviewed recently such as Fez, The Witcher 2 and Bloodforge. We also speak at great lengths about the Illuminati and Korean Robocop; we tend to go off the rails often. The featured topic is about game endings. How important is the ending to the overall experience of the game? Also which games have done game endings right, and oh so terribly wrong? Listen and find out, and don't forget to join in the discussion and tell us your favorite game endings. 

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