The Event: Gamescom 2010 – Day 2
Just to recap, EA have brought me out to Gamescom in Cologne to cover some of their highest profile titles. Some of you will probably think that this is a free holiday and that writing for a few games, a few EA games no less, is a walk in the park. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t easier because I’m doing something that I love, but this is no cakewalk…
The day began with the typical hotel activities I won’t bore you with, but Dan was waiting in the lobby for me and the other writers. The idea was that we would meet at 8.15am in order to get to the convention centre early and have a few extremely sought after moments to interview Matt Webster, Executive Producer and all around nice guy for Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit.
It seems plans rarely go as they ought; half the writing contingent were… let’s just say a touch late, meaning we weren’t able to get to the convention centre until around 10am. This might not seem like that big a deal; one missed appointment, no biggie right? Well when you’re getting preferential treatment over international press, messing these guys around is ill advised.
Late as we were, we needed some kind of superhero taxi driver to get us to Gamescom sharpish. The driver we got didn’t speak a word of English, but apparently there was no need to tell him we were in a rush. Speed limit? No problem; this driver seemed to have a special set of rules. Obstacles in the road? Not an issue; with a bit of scaffolding taking up half the road our man simply mounted the curb to speed past with ease.
Our trip to the event felt as if we were in the middle of a game of Crazy Taxi
I ran into the EA community area, suitably exhausted from the previous late night and emotionally drained from the Hot Pursuit style taxi ride. Swiftly I was ushered straight into a Q+A session with Daniel Matros, the Community Manager from DICE for Battlefield Bad Company 2. This may have been my first mistake as I soon felt out of place, being both the only English person in a predominantly German room and having not played Bad Company 2 since the PS3 Beta. Sitting at the back and generally keeping quiet was clearly a good move…
The Q&A with Daniel Matros with a little bit lost on me, but cool nonetheless
After taking a few moments to crack out a bit of writing in the EA Business lounge (this is harder than you think; all the seating is reserved for the marketing teams, so you can only sit in one place for about five minutes before being moved on like a hobo in a shop doorway), it was time to check out Dragon Age 2. With David Silverman (Dragon Age Brand Manager) presenting a little behind closed doors look at some of the new features, needless to say I’m now very excited. You can check out my full preview when it’s up.
Later, an interview with Mike Laidlaw, Lead Artist for Dragon Age 2, meant I had a full on geekhasm. Head over to newbreview.com and you’ll be able to find the interview when it goes up. I’d like to say I asked some insightful questions, but with the conversation ending with me asking about his new baby and broken hand, it might not have been completely on topic…
Other highlights include playing Star Wars: The Old Republic and Crysis 2 AND talking to James (Lead Designer for The Old Republic) and Daniel (Lead Designer for Crysis 2).
Crysis 2 is shaping up nicely, just like this guy's pecs
That’s enough from me for now; I’ll get back to you tomorrow with more of the stuff I see.
Love and hugs,
Tom
Isn’t Laidlaw’s title Lead Designer? I know he was the main bigwig with Dragon Age 1, just like Casey Hudson has been the bigwig for the Mass Effect series.
Don’t feel too bad about B:BC 2, there’s an Ulitmate Version coming out in the states at the end of the month (I’m sure around the same time in Britain) that will have all of the released content, paid and free, and Battlefield 1943 all in one package for whatever the normal price for a game is there (59.99 US here.)
Oh yeah (no edit button sorry) can’t wait to see what you think DA 2 LOOKS like in person because all of the screenshots released have looked like crap, even compared to the first one.
@MSUHitman not sure about DA:O but Laidlaw is the lead artist on DA2
@MSUHitman, Yup Laidlaw = big cheese for DA1 & 2, he’s also a very nice guy and pretty hardcore, he stayed up 24 hours straight commenating for the DA1 “Warden’s Quest” event. He knows his stuff & loves Baldur’s Gate. Nuff said!
Graphics engine will be getting a bump for DA2, they;ve gone for a darker, grittier look with more impressive / responsive skills & spells, looks very kewl tbh, looking forward to it.