EA’s Summer Showcase took place yesterday, complete with announcements and demonstrations of upcoming titles in action. If you couldn’t watch the Showcase live, we have all the news and details you need. The full event can also be watched back on
EA’s Summer Showcase page, but the event itself doesn’t start until the 37th minute of the video.
Up first was a look at the details of
Madden NFL 13 on Wii-U, which is designed to give players exactly what they love about the franchise on the new console along with exclusive features which will take advantage of the Wii-U controller. The game will feature Total Control Passing and Read and React Defence. Connected Careers, which was unveiled at E3, will also be playable on the console. This allows players to retrace the career of one of the favourite professionals or build their own legacy. Madden NFL 13 on the Wii-U will make use of the touch screen control to call plays, adjust plays on the fly with custom hot routes, and quickly change defensive assignments. More information will be released in the coming weeks.
EA was also keen to highlight the Wii-U version of
FIFA 13. The sports title will feature the same engine as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions, but will also take advantage of the unique elements of the console. Line Producer, Mat Prior, highlighted that it believes that more casual gamers will be playing on the Wii-U and FIFA 13 has been designed with every type of gamer in mind. Prior added that “If your dad can use a mobile, your dad can now play FIFA.”
Players can play FIFA as they always have, but can choose to take advantage of the Wii-U controller in certain circumstances if they prefer. One element highlighted was a set piece during which the player could look around through an aiming reticule and aim their shot or pass in that manner. However, Prior was keen to stress that the team didn’t want to make this a “gimmicky way to score all the time.” The touch screen controller can also be used for shooting, in particular for one-on-one situations, where players can aim on a representation of the goal and tap where they want to shoot. The shake-and-shoot feature is designed to give players more control over the placement of shots and remove the “random” element, which casual gamers may feel applies to shooting in other versions of the game. Naturally, the game also allows players to use the touch screen to pass. The Manager Central tab allows players to analyse the game and tweak their tactics on the go. Players can check out stats and keep an eye on who isn’t giving 110%. A similar mode applies within co-op where players can help, or hinder, those playing. The player taking the role of the manager can trigger runs, but the flip side is that they can send the keeper on a kamikaze run up the field. FIFA 13 will be a Wii-U launch title, so now we just have to learn when the Wii-U is going to be released.
This year is going to be a big year for mobile, social and online games if you are a fan of EA’s offerings. The company plans to bring 40 new titles out this year in an effort to appeal to gamers everywhere. EA spoke about how it wants “Seamless play, anytime anywhere.” It highlighted four titles during the showcase.
FIFA 13 iOS was up first with promises of new controls, better facial animations, nicer looking pitches and more realistic player movements. The offence button allows you to perform skill moves such as faints, stepovers and drag-backs and the defence button allows you to call a second defender, a CPU controlled player, to come and help you out. The title will also feature online multiplayer powered by Origin. This will allow players to compete against Origin friends anywhere else in the world. Players can also upload directly to YouTube whenever they score a cracker or run rings around the opposition.
A short trailer was shown off for
Real Racing 3, which will feature licensed cars from Porsche and Audi among many others, along with real tracks such as Laguna Seca and Silverstone. Multiplayer will feature a 22 player racing grid, so it is bound to get chaotic. Players are going to have to be very aware of their surroundings coming into turn one.
Chillingo unveiled its new title,
Orc Vengeance. The isometric action adventure title puts you in the role of an Orc through a cinematic story driven experience with the promise of intense combat and epic boss battles. It seems to be a different direction for Chillingo, considering its portfolio packs titles such as Cut the Rope and Catapult King.
Speaking of different directions, here’s a tie-in with
Plants vs Zombies that we weren’t really expecting.
PvZ presents Talking Zombatar is a free to play title on iOS devices, which gives players a zombie to carry around like an interactive pet. The zombie can be dressed up, talked to, and made dance, and both videos and pictures can be shared online…though we’re not sure they’ll become viral hits in the same vein as
Stalking Cat or
Fenton.
Sims 3 fans may be glad to hear that the game is set for further expansion on November 13th.
The Sims 3 Seasons will implement new features and activities as Sims can snowboard, snowball fight or go for a dip in the ocean. Seasons will transition as gameplay progresses with seasonal events to boot. Sims will be able to play football in the fall, get drunk during the spring fling or escape the baking sun by going for a dip in the ocean.
A new mode and new cars are on the way for
Need for Speed World players. Drag Mode was one of the most requested modes for the title and it will be implemented in the next few months. This will be the first time in five years that the game mode will feature in a Need for Speed title. New licensed cars including the Porsche Carrera GT will also be included in the game in the near future.
EA then showcased an explosive trailer for the
Battlefield 3 expansion pack,
Armored Kill. The trailer featured massive maps and focused primarily upon vehicle combat. Also included in the trailer was the new game mode, Tank Superiority, which pits platoons of tanks against each other as players fight over a flag. Hints were also dropped for Aftermath, which will be set between the Iran/Iraq border just after the earthquake and include four new maps along with a new game mode. Endgame was touched upon briefly with mention of motorcycles and a March 2013 release date.
If that wasn’t enough gun play for you, EA also presented
Medal of Honor Warfighter with a new trailer. We covered it yesterday, but here’s another taste of it in case you missed it. The game will focus on Tier 1 operator Preacher and will feature situations inspired by real world events and locations. It’s pretty common knowledge by now, but if you pre-order Medal of Honor you will get access to the
Battlefield 4 beta when it goes live.
The Mass Effect universe lends itself to further stories and it is unsurprising to hear that new content will be released this summer.
Mass Effect 3: Leviathan takes place during the events of Mass Effect 3 and places players into an emotive story featuring a hunt for the Leviathan, said to be powerful enough to defeat the Reapers. It will be available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Finally, the Mass Effect 3 Firefight Pack will be released on August 7th, with new weapons included.
Mass Effect 3 will also be released on Wii-U as a launch title with an interactive backstory section for those who haven't played the previous games to catch up on the plot. Players will be able to make crucial choices, which will affect how Mass Effect 3 will play out.
It was certainly a packed showcase and there is plenty to look forward to in the months ahead. What were your highlights?