Another quick post related to the E3 Judges event. EA was one of the larger events of the week and took place at the EA LA studios. Needless to say they have some nice digs. Anyway, EA was showcasing 26 or something games, which made it a bit hard to sit and check out anything for an extended period of time. Still, I knocked out four previews early this week: Need for Speed Shift, The Saboteur, Fight Night Round 4 and Dragon Age: Origins. Of the four I am most stoked for The Saboteur. Although, I have to admit that Fight Night was surprisingly fun to play…even though I kept headbutting my opponent on accident and getting penalties.  I can’t talk about the other games I played just yet…but they are coming soon enough! Read on for the scoop!

Need for Speed Shift
We first heard about Shift with the announcement of two other Need for Speed titles, one created solely for the Wii and the other a free-to-play online game. Shift stands out as the iteration that moves the franchise from its arcade roots into simulation territory.

The team behind Shift is focusing on three things for the upcoming title. The first is to put the player into the driver’s seat with the introduction of realistic g-force behaviors. Second on the slate is the inclusion of true-to-life physics and third is adding AI unpredictability.

The cockpit view, which is new to the franchise, is where the g-force implementation is seen best. As the player jets around the track at high speeds the peripheries of the screen will start to blur. In addition the camera shakes from the position of the drivers head, and if you spin out and crash you will be disoriented for a few seconds time. The Shift team explained that racing games have yet to nail the energy and emotion of being behind the wheel, which is something they wish to change.

Click here for the full story.

Be Sociable, Share!

•