Game developers and journalists descended upon Cologne, Germany for another Gamescom Conference. This event is similar to E3, but the spotlight is placed on upcoming games. This year, Microsoft, Sony and EA (which I was unable to watch due to their 4 a.m. EST stage time) highlighted their future line ups of games. Backlogs and wallets beware, there is a lot to be excited about just over the horizon.




Microsoft kicked things off with an impressive showing of games, but most importantly, they continued to ride the wave of success they generated at E3 in June. The rough start Microsoft experienced when the XBox One was revealed as a thing of the past. The console manufacturer learned from their mistakes and are pressing forward with a renewed strategy. The major change is a greater focus on accommodating feedback from their fans and planning subsequent moves accordingly. Games are what the people want, and games they shall get.


It should be no surprise that the Microsoft event featured the new Halo collection - can't have XBox without Halo. The compilation of games entitled The Master Chief Collection will offer high definition graphics of the previous four installments in the series. 343 Industries announced that the package will include the fan favorite "Sanctuary" map from Halo 2. Of course, gamers want more than just shooty-shoots which is where Remedy Entertain comes in. Quantum Break, the studio's next game, will feature a time manipulation mechanic alongside a dark atmosphere similar to the one gamers saw in Alan Wake. Microsoft also announced that the XBox One will enable players to pre-order and pre-load games so they can be accessed the moment they are released.

Anyone who doesn't own an XBox One console has reason to be interested because Microsoft unveiled a handful of new console bundles: a white console with a Sunset Overdrive download code which includes all the Day One perks ($399), a 1 TB Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare themed system ($499), and a FIFA 15 bundle for the European market and soccer football fans ($399).


Sony had a great presence at the conference, alas the champion of E3 2013 dropped the ball this year. Their lackluster performance at this summer's E3 carried over to Gamescom. The console developer came out with such a big ego that it's a wonder their heads fit through the doors. No one likes a braggart and Sony opened their presser with the announcement that 10 million PS4 units have been sold worldwide. Once the gloating was over, Sony announced the upcoming System Update 2.0 which will allow players to find friends using real names via Facebook, and virtually "pass the controller" to another gamer during a co-op multiplayer match. That's cool, but ultimately these are features gamers can live without. Sony telling the people what to want is a new trend and it isn't working.

Moreover, they shared more information regarding PS TV saying they are "thrilled by its reception at E3" and that their service will change the way people access and play games.


In addition to selling things people aren't interested in, Sony wants to scare gamers' pants off. The bulk of the games they revealed were horror titles. An "interactive teaser" called P.T. was announced. The trailer was the typical night-vision camera shot of people reacting to jump scares. Cliche trailer aside, the "interactive teaser" turned out be for Silent Hills (with an "s"), a new game from Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro. Until Dawn, the teenage cabin retreat gone horribly wrong, was re-revealed this time without the silly PS Move control scheme and much improvement overall.

It wasn't all screams and jump scares though, Sony also showed an impressive gameplay trailer of From Software's Bloodborne and a sizzle reel for Hellblade by Ninja Theory.

Like any modern games conference, there was the ubiquitous indie games segment. Not much excitement here, but both Microsoft and Sony will offer games that were once PC exclusives. The games worth mentioning are: Below, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, Rime, Inside, and Papers, Please.

Everything from Microsoft's presentation can be found here

Everything from Sony's presentation can be found here

Watch EA's presentation here

Further reading and watching
New XBox One console bundles
Quantum Break gameplay trailer
Playthrough of P.T with comentary
Bloodborne gameplay
Hellblade trailer
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
Rime

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