I VGA (Video Game Awards) quest’anno hanno cambiato nome e format, passando da quella che tranquillamente poteva essere scambiata per la notte degli Oscar in qualcosa di più tranquillo e che lascia più spazio a giochi e sviluppatori. Presentato da Jeff Keighley e da un molto poco in forma Joel McHale (che figuraccia!!!), i VGX (The Next Generation of Videogame Awards), sono un evento che ha lo scopo di premiare i vari titoli usciti nel corso dell’anno in diverse categorie, ma si tratta anche di un evento per mostrare qualche “World Premiere” interessante.
Tra gli sviluppatori presenti, alcuni si sono distinti in modo particolare. Pensiamo per esmepio a Telltales, software house americana conosciuta per aver creato in passato titoli totalmente dimenticabili come Ritorno al Futuro e Tales of Monkey Island, ma anche per aver creato titoli memorabili quali The Walking Dead. Durante la diretta di ieri sera Telltales ha annunciato l’arrivo di Tales of the Borderlands,chiaramente ambientato nell’universo dell’universo creato da Gearbox in Borderlands 1 e 2, e Games of Thrones,, serie letteraria poi approdata anche in televisione basata sulla vasta (e sadica) immaginazione dello scrittore americano George R.R. Martin
Di seguito i trailer :
[youtube link=”http://youtu.be/TY0-rK7o8vw” width=”395″ height=”250″]
But let's now move on to more traditional titles: after some rumours dedicated to the young Lara Croft in the Next Gen version, here is Crystal Dynamics presenting Tomb Raider Definitive Edition. This is a revised version recently released for last-generation consoles (including Valve's Steam) that introduces revised graphics to adapt to the generous hardware of the current eighth generation. Planned for both PS4 and Xbox One for next year (no Wii U), below is the official trailer:
[youtube link=”http://youtu.be/vKuYhe1PWr8″ width=”395″ height=”250″]
Finally, Quantum Break also shows itself in a gameplay trailer, albeit a short one, in which the game mechanics and abilities are presented focused on the ability to stop time at your own discretion. According to one of the creators, the new title dedicated exclusively to the Xbox One platform mixes the experience between Max Payne and Alan Wake in a single action adventure title.
[youtube link=”http://youtu.be/Rb_ppxwH4HU” width=”395″ height=”250″]
After the failure of THQ, the return of the saved IP is not missing South Park: The Stick of Truth recovered and soon published by the French company Ubisoft. Here too, a gameplay trailer is finally shown, in which we learn magic from the great wizard Cartman. The title will finally see the light of day on the global market in March of next year for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.
[youtube link=”http://youtu.be/384l-tgjptQ” width=”395″ height=”250″]
Blizzard is not missing with its latest chapter The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which finally flexes its muscles in a trailer dedicated to gameplay and more. The Western-style RPG was immediately presented last year as a title that would take full advantage of the eighth-generation console hardware, offering good graphics accompanied by a completely open world.
[youtube link=”http://youtu.be/rT3Vr4bP9Jc” width=”395″ height=”250″]
There is also a new IP developed by only 4 people: directly from the studios of Hello Games Here you are <strongNo Man's Sky. It's an indie sci-fi MMO title focused on world exploration. The most remarkable thing about it is that the worlds are procedurally created, meaning the developers aren't hand-crafting the different environments; instead, the game models them according to specific rules. This means that the planets in No Man's Sky will always be new and varied, but also that the number of such worlds can be incredibly vast. In fact, during the presentation, one of the developers stated that every star we see in the sky can be reached and freely explored by the player!
[youtube link=”http://youtu.be/RNVgVl6v6YU” width=”395″ height=”250″]
We conclude with some trailers dedicated to other upcoming titles coming out next year. We are talking about Thief, born from the development team behind Deux Ex, Titanfall from publisher EA and The Division from Ubisoft :
[youtube link=”http://youtu.be/Oq9NMBOu97Q” width=”395″ height=”250″]
[youtube link=”http://youtu.be/0GTrLH0s8Xw” width=”395″ height=”250″]
[youtube link=”http://youtu.be/ir5qGJjf41k” width=”395″ height=”250″]
A few words must be dedicated to Nintendo, which is also presenting itself at the VGX with a title previously announced in the Nintendo Direct. In this case, it is
Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, two-dimensional platformer that takes the mechanics of the series and transforms them into a Next Gen game.
The novelty linked to this title is the presence of the fourth playable character:
the friendly old man Cranky Cong who, with his stick, can easily overcome some pitfalls in the level design. The character's style is very reminiscent of DuckTales remastered, where even Scrooge McDuck uses a stick to jump. Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze will be released on February 21st in the United States, but further information will be released in upcoming Nintendo Direct presentations. What's most striking is the general discontent on the forums, from fans eagerly awaiting a new IP to haters gloating over the Japanese company's downfall for presenting a "silly" title. It's undeniable that the opportunity to present something new at an event like VGX was missed.
