Games to watch from E3 2010

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit

Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: November 2010

Not only is the latest Need For Speed a remake of the best game in the long running series, it's also being developed by Criterion, the makers of Burnout. At the heart of the latest game is the snappily named Need for Speed Autolog which promises to enable gamers to “connect, compare, and compete with [your] friends effortlessly.” All of which sounds like a fancy name for lots of different types of online action really.



A lengthy single player experience is also on offer, including a new twist with the addition of weapons and evasive equipment to keep the action fast paced and brutally hectic. How close all this will end up in comparison to the old style gameplay of cops and robbers remains to be seen. Lots of sexy sports cars (including a Bugatti Veyron in police colours), with players taking sides trying to outrun, and then trying to stop said vehicles, are promised. Given Criterion's history, you’d be shocked if this wasn’t a triple A, award winning title.

Fallout: New Vegas

Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Publisher: Bethesda
Release Date: Autumn 2010

After Fallout 3 brought the series bang up to date, developers Obsidian are all set to bring us a brand new tale from Fallout’s post apocalyptic nightmare. Not a direct sequel to the last title, but simply a different tale created using the same base, New Vegas is set in post-apocalyptic Nevada, an area not struck directly by nuclear attack. Hence this time around we’ll get the chance to explore buildings that remain standing fully formed, and converse with NPC’s that aren’t suffering from horrific mutation.


The much praised V.A.T.S. system remains with little seen thus far changed too wildly from last time out, although certain weapons will introduce unique attack animations. Not a bad thing considering the multitude of awards Fallout 3 was gifted. Newly introduced is the ‘Hardcore Mode’ which ramps up the difficulty and adds all kinds of inventory management to proceedings. You even need to make sure your character has frequent hearty meals and a good kip every evening.

Star Wars The Old Republic

Platform: PC
Publisher: Bioware
Release Date: TBC

Another big name MMO looking to take on World of Warcraft, The Old Republic has plenty of features to be explored. Though eight classes have been made known, developer BioWare (the folks behind pretty much every RPG you’ve loved the past decade) has been eager to point out that any basic class will be able to be customised at a moment’s notice in order to prevent any party from stumbling into the trap of being unable to progress.


The big announcement is the inclusion of starships. Every player will come packing their own little flying machine which acts as not only a swift way to travel the dozens of planets, but also a lovely little social hub, a la the Normandy in Mass Effect. Only one Jedi, and one Sith ship have been shown so far, but you can expect a few more offerings by game launch.

A dialogue system similar to the one used in the Mass Effect series sounds intriguing, as does the fully fledged voice acting for every single in game character. And like the aforementioned series, you can choose from a variety of NPC’s to stick close to with the promise of extra story content, and even a potential love interest can appear if you stick a little too closely to your NPC.