Here it comes, GDC 2009!! (Now with Hideo Kojima Keynote)

[quietchat]

That's right, on Monday is the 3 day long Game Developer Conference. This is quietchat here who has previously brought you the Tokyo Game Show, E3 2008, and I think somthing else.

This thread is the official discussion for the Game Developer Conference, going March 23rd to March 27th. And first up to be discussed is Nintendo.

That's right, Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata is making a keynote (The opening keynote??) where it is expected he will unvail somthing to finally bring focus back to their aspect of appealing to hardcore gamers. Previously they have used the show to show off the Wii, and another time showing off Brain Age. What do you think will be revealed by Iwata this year?

Also making a keynote this year is Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid series), Peter Molyneux (Lionhead Studios, Black and White series, Fable Series), Mark Healey and Alex Evans (Little Big Planet), and more.



Expect updates on Monday. Like the other events I've brought, expect info from 1up.com, Kotaku.com, g4tv.com (and it's t.v. channel), and ign.com for video, interviews, exclusives, important news and even the complete speeches of each keynote.

So what do you think is going to be unvailed this year?




PREVIEWS!!!! Let's get some discussion on these too.

Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694288/The-Legend-of-Zelda-Spirit-Tracks-Announced-with-Debut-Trailer.html

R.U.S.E http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694277/GDC-2009-First-Look-Preview-RUSE.html#readmore

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694286/Ninja-Gaiden-Sigma-2-Trailer-Ryu-Hayabusa-Fights-Co-Op-Online.html

Stormrise http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694282/Stormrise-Launch-Trailer-Gangs-of-the-Future-Looking-to-Change-RTS-Console-Gaming.html

Leaked God Of War III Gameplay http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694310/God-of-War-III-Footage-Leaks-onto-Internet.html

Batman: Arkam Asylum http://kotaku.com/5187230/batman-takes-on-arkham-asylums-challenge-rooms

Prototype http://kotaku.com/5187726/10-reasons-to-buy-prototype

[SmokedBoo]

Will they be announcing the new DS? Or at least talk about releasing it in the US? They really need more action games, like MGS and Halo. It would be nice if they released games at least similar to those. And I personally would like to see another Legend of Zelda game. Maybe I'm just weird like that but they should make a sequel to TP like they did for OoT.

[quietchat]

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694201/Live-Blog-GDC-Mobile-Keynote---Neil-Young-CEO-of-ngmoco.html

Okay, today was a bit of a slow day for GDC. With Apple and their Iphone becoming a new entry into handheld gaming, it makes sense to make a keynote about.... cell phone gaming... (*Comical Charlie Brown "Arrrrrrrg" *).

Click the 'Replay' circle and you'll be able to see the text of the speech by Neil Young, founder of ngmocco (Yes, really spelled like that, and no, I haven't heard of it either). His speech starts off comprising of the usual bragging developer bragging seen in every event: In this case, having a larger install base than the PSP and DS handheld systems, and that the quality of their games are starting to shadow their competitor's graphics and abilities and what not, then they start actually talking about the games.

The blue comments are ones from the people representing (I guess) g4. Also in all of that is several video demonstrations of the games shown. Obviously this is very much trimmed from the actual speech, leaving just the main ideas.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3173391 Also of interest is this bit of reading material, and....

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3173394 this story which suggests that an Iphone version of Bioshock may be coming soon. At this time I can't find a recording of the keynote speech. If anyone can find it feel free to post it.



So with that, does anyone own an Iphone? Are you an Iphone gamer if you actually own one? Do you think that it can be a solid competitor against the established DS and PSP? Do you agree with the statements made during the speech?

[leerock89]

I do not own an iPhone, but when I see those games on it it looks pretty awesome. Hell, I'd get one myself but its a bit pricey.

[SmokedBoo]

I love how they're full of themselves and talk smack about the other games and consoles. I don't see what's so great about having a phone that can play games. Not only is the phone itself expensive, but you probably have to pay a dubious amount just to put a game on there. not worth the money in other words.

[Eggroll]

idk, maybe some freaky zombie game:lightsaber:
i really liked left for dead, also, will there be a new game system?

[quietchat]

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694279/Live-Blog-GDC-2009-Keynote---Nintendo-President-Satoru-Iwata.html

This link is for today's keynote of Nintendo's Satoru Iwata, and works like the keynote link for mobile phone gaming. This one provides a little more info about what's actually going on: A representative is in the audience during the keynote, and he updates what happens live. At the same time he chats with members of the g4tv.com forums.

This also explains why there isn't any video feed. Apparently videos of each keynote are sold later on to developers by GDC.


The keynote again starts off with the regular gloating and such. Nintendo shipping 100 million DS units, and soon to sell/ship 50 million Wii units (Currently making it the fastest selling console in history). A few concepts are given using lead developer Shigiru Miyamoto, and several stories including where Nintendogs came from (Many games from him lately happen to be inspired from what hobbies or life events the he has at the time, for example excersicing leading to wii fit, and learning to play an instrument to wii music).

There is also some background to how Nintendo develops there games and there stradegy of quality. Then we get to a bit more meat. Rythem Heaven was brought to the U.S. recently from Japan, a DS title. Rock-n-Roll Climber, a rock climbing game using the wii balance board.

Major concern is the issue of space on the Nintendo Wii system, which a solution has finally been created. SD cards will be able to support up to 240 wii ware games as well as saving and loading downloaded games directly to and from the card, and along with this there is now a new interface upgrade which will allow you to use the new features (Now available). Next up, a new game: Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, sequal to the original game on SNES (I forget if we actually got IV in the U.S, as the U.S. only got 3 of the original 6 and the titles weren't matched between the two nations) as well as a look at My Life as a Dark Lord - Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, sequal to Crystal Chronicles on the Gamecube.

After that is some demonstrations of the DSi and two games: Moving Memo, where you can create flipbooks and animations, as well as imput sounds using the mic. It can then be uploaded online for download from other people.

Second game is a new Wario Ware game, Wario Ware Snapped, which uses the DSi's camera.

The last two things shown is the Virtual Console Arcade, which will allow download of classic arcade games (What kind?? No idea). Lastly, the DSi is brought out again to show a new Legend of Zelda title, Spirit Tracks. It will use cel shaded graphics similar to Wind Waker and have link traveling by train (Which makes this the most technologically advanced era of the series).


How do you feel about Nintendo's new updates plans and whatnot? I thought it was a little weak but it wasn't bad by all means. I do look forward to the new Zelda and Final Fantasy titles, the Rock Climbing game seemed.... bleeeh. But I don't own a balance board anyway.


Come back tommorrow where I'll be updating you on the Keynote by Hideo Kojima.



Also, if you're too lazy, here are some handy links with compressed and quick to load info from Kotaku.com

http://kotaku.com/5183763/wii-system-update-adds-play-from-sd-card-support?skyline=true&s=i Storage Solution

http://kotaku.com/5183950/wii-virtual-console-goes-to-the-arcade Virtual Console Arcade

http://kotaku.com/5183949/the-legend-of-zelda-spirit-tracks-coming-to-the-ds New Zelda Title

http://kotaku.com/5183937/see-nintendo-demonstrate-rock-n-roll-climber Video Demo of Rock-n-Roll Climber



Edit: New info on the Final Fantasy titles: The sequel to Final Fantasy VI will be a WiiWare title, and so will the new Crystal Chronicals title. The original Fanal Fantasy will be brought to Wii Virtual Console.

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694284/Three-Final-Fantasy-Titles-Coming-To-Wii.html

[SmokedBoo]

I see that Nintendo wasted no time in making another LoZ title. I'm not too savvy with the DSi so I don't know much about it (I should probably look that up). I remember the Phantom Hourglass and it didn't have very good graphics, so I'll be surprise if this new game has better ones.

Final Fantasy fans will probably be flabbergasted that more title for the series will be available for Nintendo systems. A lot of the hardcore fans still feel that FF should stick with Sony consoles and not be tainted by Nintendo.

I wonder if the arcade games will be in there classic mode, or in modern graphics? Don't get me wrong, it would be super cool if they redid the games to have a more modern graphical look, but personally I hope they keep the retro graphics.

Keep us updated!

[Koopaking]

Final Fantasy fans will probably be flabbergasted that more title for the series will be available for Nintendo systems. A lot of the hardcore fans still feel that FF should stick with Sony consoles and not be tainted by Nintendo.


Final Fantasy started out as a franchise on Nintendo systems in the first place... FFIV was on the SNES, one of my favorites, I'm glad they are finally expanding the universe of another game besides VII.

The new Zelda looks pretty cool, a lot like Phantom Hourglass, hopefully it will improve on that game as it was a bit simplistic for a Zelda title. The new Warioware looks pretty fun, I'm a fan of those games.

I was hoping they would give a definitive North American release date for Mario & Luigi 3 so I can know when to get it. Other than that it was a fairly decent lineup but where are the new Nintendo Wii games? I suppose they are waiting until E3 to show those... I want to see a Wii Starfox, Kirby, and F-Zero stat!

[SmokedBoo]

Final Fantasy started out as a franchise on Nintendo systems in the first place... FFIV was on the SNES, one of my favorites, I'm glad they are finally expanding the universe of another game besides VII.

I knew that, but the majority of FF fans prefer it on the PlayStation. People are just anal about some things.

[quietchat]

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694316/GDC-09-X-Play-Talks-With-Hideo-Kojima.html

Okay, today was Hideo Kojima's Keynote at GDC 2009. Above is a video interview with the famous developer. Those of you who are unaware, he is the mind that created Metal Gear Solid, the newest release being Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and also has more games to come in the following months.

Also, look to my first post. I will start updating it with game previews.



http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694311/Live-Blog-GDC-2009-Keynote---Hideo-Kojima.html

This is the keynote link, use it like you used the first two.

First mentioned, Congratulations to Hideo Kojima for earning the Lifetime Achievment Award from GDC.

Next up, he brings out some slides that relate Snake and Mario, commenting that Snake can climb over, Mario can jump over. Taller wall, now only Mario can get over it, and uses this to discuss ways to look at Snake's options, and use this as an anology to developing games in relation to technology, and brings this to discuss the first game on the MSX2 (Look it up, I'm not gonna hold your hand) and how the NES game was crap since he didn't work on it. (And brief mention to the second NES game being crap too)


This goes on up to Metal Gear 4, talking about advancements through the games, changes, ideas, and technology. Then it's a bit more talk after that.

Sadly Hideo doesn't announce anything new, other than that he's looking for people to work on the next title.

While he has the most interesting speech so far, it kept people expecting and left them hanging. Any thoughts? Do you agree with his statements? What do you think he really has planned?

Once again, updates to the first post with video demo's of the new games.

[SmokedBoo]

Kojima is probably thinking that MGS: GOTP is the last game he'll make for the MGS series. I highly doubt this, but it's nice to know he thinks he's not going to do another one but just might in the near furture.

I was really confused about the Snake:Mario analogy. In fact, I still don't get it.

And wow, I didn't see where he started off his speech with gloating. That just got him brownie points from me.

Really ecstatic about the next update.