Your Saturday Linc: Episode VII and Rebels, Joe Hogan Vlog, Old Doctor Who Episodes

Happy Summer everyone! As we enter the season of beaches, barbecues, and bikinis, what better way than lathering on some sunscreen, grabbing your tablet, and hopping into the pool to read about what's been happening on the Web!

"Ahh this is the life."
"Shouldn't you be guarding the deflector shield's rear entrance?"
"Theeeee life."

1. Episode VII Casting Confirmed And Star Wars: Rebels Plot Updates

It's been a pretty good week for Bleeding Cool News. As it turns out, their report on leaked casting calls for Episode VII were proven to be 100% accurate and confirmed by Lucasfilm. I mean, I don't know how secret casting calls are supposed to be since they're meant to be distributed out to agents and actors, but it's really cool that we're getting a first look at the characters that we'll see in Episode VII and possibly beyond. So far we've seen calls for:

"Late-teen female, independent, good sense of humour, fit." - This is possibly our leading lady. Perhaps a Skywalker?

"Young twenty-something male, witty and smart, fit but not traditionally good looking." - I don't know what "not traditionally good-looking" means, but I'm willing to put my face into contention. Possibly a Solo?

"A late twentysomething male, fit, handsome and confident." - Our late-teen female's love interest, perhaps?

"Seventy-something male, with strong opinions and tough demeanour. Also doesn't need to be particularly fit." -- Looks like gramps here won't be seeing much action. Could this be an Admiral Pellaeon-type older Imperial officer?

"A second young female, also late teens, tough, smart and fit." -- A rom-com-esque best friend of the leading lady?

"Forty something male, fit, military type." -- The bad guy? An Imperial officer? Or maybe a Crix Madine   type of individual.

"Thirtysomething male, intellectual. Apparently doesn’t need to be fit." -- Because Force-forbid we have a strong, good-looking geek on screen.

If we know one thing...most of these people are going to be fit, hopefully because of all the "faster, more intense" action that they will be partaking in. More to come as we get closer, inch by frustrating inch, to 2015.

Bleeding Cool has also managed to dig up some new plot details for the upcoming successor to the Clone Wars series, Star Wars: Rebels. According to BCN:

"Not only is the show about the formation of the Rebel Alliance, taking place in the narrative space between Episodes III and IV, the title also riffs on the main characters. I’ve learned that most of them are teenagers. Rebellious teenagers? Well, that’s the reference, at least."

From whiny Luke Skywalker to his emo father, Anakin, Star Wars has always been about a youth's journey of self-discovery that has galactic-wide consequences. Imagine if some 19-year-old had the ability to alter the course of the universe....and then slowly try to control the shuddering. Don't worry, here's an image of a TIE pilot drawn by Dave Filoni:

Because nothing says calm and soothing than the faceplate of an Imperial fighter pilot.

2. How Do I Art? Joe Hogan's Vlog on Art, the Industry, and New Projects

Missing Linc guest-blogger and all around art warlock Joe Hogan has released the first in his series of vlogs dedicated to helping amateur artists find their way through the painted, photoshopped jungle of the art industry.

Because who wouldn't trust a face like this?

He even dishes on new projects, like his upcoming second motion comic "Panic Over Muunilinst" and his collaborative wrap-up to the Clone Wars, entitled "Clone Wars: Resolutions" (which yours truly will have a hand in penning). Head on over to his Deviant Art page or his You Tube page, or just click the link above to catch up with the latest "Cup'a Joe"!

3. BBC Cannot Confirm Recovery of Classic Doctor Who Episodes

Just an update on the recent reports of the discovery of around 90 episodes of classic Doctor Who episodes, many from the William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton eras. Radio Times spoke with the BBC and asked them whether or not they could confirm the rumors. The BBC, stoic as ever, had this to say:

“There are always rumours and speculation about Doctor Who missing episodes being discovered - however we cannot confirm any new finds,” a statement says.

Because this is exactly what I think of when I think of an old, skeptical British institution

So I guess we might not be getting a special Christmas present from "the beeb" anytime soon. But there's plenty of new and exciting stuff to come with the 50th Anniversary Special, the departure of Matt Smith at Christmas, and the reveal of the Twelfth Doctor.

And that's all for now! Now go enjoy that big shiny yellow thing in the sky. Or two, if you're on Tatooine.

A hero took this picture.

'Til next time,

- Joe

Your Morning Linc: Clone Wars: Resolutions, Star Wars Park A Go?, Muppets on Broadway, and Lost Doctor Who Episodes Found

Good morning everyone! The Missing Linc returns to its original format with yours truly at the helm, but I have to sincerely thank Joe Hogan for his incredible E3 coverage last week. If you haven't already, check out his really insightful and funny posts below this one. But, the Hogatron has one more surprise left for us, and it kicks off today's Morning Linc!

1. Clone Wars: Resolutions

When it was announced, just a few months ago, that The Clone Wars was going to be canceled, I think we were all a little shocked (there is a distinct dent in the floor where I fell off my chair). It seemed that we would never know the ultimate destinies of Ahsoka, Rex, Hondo, and many others. But, luckily for us, Joe was recently commissioned to resolve the fates of many of our beloved Clone Wars characters. Culling together some of the best unknown artists and writers (including a certain blogger), Clone Wars: Resolutions promises to answer many of your important questions, so stay tuned! You can check out more about this and other projects on his DeviantArt page.

It's also worth noting that, in its final season, The Clone Wars managed to garner two Daytime Emmy Awards. One, accepted by George Lucas, Dave Filoni,and Carey Silver, was for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program. The other, much to my Star-Whovian delight, was the Oustanding Performer in an Animated Program and went to David Tennant for his guest appearance as the lightsaber-constructing droid Huyang in the episodes "A Test of Strength" and "A Necessary Bond".

"Molto bene!"

And if that isn't enough Star Wars news to get your hyperdrives up and running, here's something you're not going to want to miss:

2. Star Wars Land at Disney World Coming Soon!

Jedi Gonna Hate

According to reports from the Theme Park Insider, we might be just that much closer to an official Star Wars Land at Disney Hollywood Studios (which I will still forever call "MGM"). 

"This appears to be a five-year project, putting completion in 2018, though Disney could choose to throw money at it and accelerate it by a year."

The park will reportedly either extend from Star Tours to the Indiana Jones stunt show or take over the space now occupied by Honey! I Shrunk the Kids and The Muppet 3-D theater. TheForce.Net is also reporting that Star Tours will be receiving yet another upgrade as well when the park expands, and we might even get to dine a Chalmun's famous cantina!. Although I really hope we don't see the end of the Muppets (even though the show has been running for almost 20 years), I cannot wait to finally see what I've only imagined since I was a kid. And that, I believe, is the magic of both Disney and Star Wars

And speaking of Muppets (and my love of being able to string together posts)...

3. The Muppets Might Take Manhattan Once More!

According to Playbill.com, it looks like we might be seeing Green on the Great White Way. Disney Theatrical Production, after a reportedly productive concept meeting (which included over 85 Muppets and a performance of Kermit's "Rainbow Connection), might be sending Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, and the rest of the gang to Broadway! 

The show would be directed by award-winning director Alex Timbers, who co-directed the phenomenal (and hilarious) Peter and the Starcatcher and also directed the insanely awesome Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway a few years ago. 

Of course, not everyone is excited about Muppets taking the stage....

Bring out the bear!

4. Lost Doctor Who Episodes Might Have Been Uncovered

When a show reaches its fiftieth year, you can expect there to be certain mythologies built around it. One in particular surrounds the fate of several early episodes, including the one that contains the very first regeneration. You see, back in the day, TV execs didn't feel the need to archive episodes, instead reusing the tape for other shows or just throwing it out entirely. Whole adventures of the First and Second Doctors have been lost to time, thrown into the vortex and cast away in the Medusa Cascade. Or so we thought...

Lost forever, the famous "Espresso Machine of the Daleks" serial

According to Bleeding Cool News, the BBC has secured a large number of tapes from...and I quote..."an eccentric engineer who worked for broadcasters across Africa with a taste for science fiction and a habit of taking things for 'safe keeping'". One of the full serials recovered is reportedly 1967's Evil of the Daleks. 

Now, I'm a little dubious, but then again this wouldn't be the first time that things were saved by an eccentric madman....

Ahhhh that felt good. Been too long since I was able to tap at the keys and make Blog magic! And, of course, I missed all of you wonderful people. Keep your eyes posted to The Missing Linc for more on each of these stories!

'Til next time,

- Joe

E3 Day 3 - (OPINION) The Next-Gen Console War is Already Over

Hey, faithful Missing Linc readers! Joe Hogan here once again for some Day 3 E3 coverage. We're kicking today off with a personal opinion article, detailing why I'm making mine Sony this console generation. I've been pretty unfair to Sony leading up to the PS4. Let me just say that I owned a PS1, PS2, but no PS3. I also owned an original Xbox and the Xbox 360. So this past generation, I've been a huge Microsoft supporter, and as much as I loved the past Playstations, I just couldn't get into the PS3. It just wasn't for me. With that in mind, I was not expecting the Playstation 4 to be for me until Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One.

We all know the facts by now. If you don't, here's a quick re-cap. And how did gamers react to Microsoft?

 

Ouch.

Rightfully so. DRM, used game fees, 24-hour internet connection check to function, mandatory Kinect connection (that is always on and recording, mind you), and a price tag of $500. Microsoft's privacy-invading console has quickly become the butt of a giant internet running gag, and the ship is sinking quickly. By the end of the Microsoft conference, I had already resigned to the fact that I was done console gaming (with the exception of my already-owned Wii U), and would be making the jump to PC gaming. That's still a strong possibility, but then entered the second half of Sony's press conference.

NONE of the issues listed above for Xbox One will be plaguing the Playstation 4. Games are still free to swap with friends, there's no internet connection required to play single player games, and the price is $400...a whopping $100 cheaper than Xbox One. Not to mention, it has a ton of games on the way (maybe not at launch, but what console does?). It's getting the essentials like Watch Dogs and Battlefield 4, as well as other console exclusives like The Division, Kingdom Hearts III and Final Fantasy XV. It is a good time to be a Sony gamer. I'll say it: The Playstation 4 is shaping up to be the console that I was hoping the Xbox One would be. My one regret is that I won't be able to continue Master Chief's adventures into the second and third installments of his Halo Forerunner Trilogy, but one game is not worth the cost of $500 and my principles as a gamer and, how I hope to think of myself as, an intelligent consumer that is fully aware of what he does and does not want.

November is coming.

An interview from GameTrailers.com with Microsoft Xbox Doucheba- I'm sorry- Executive, Don Mattrick, really drove it home, if all that other information didn't already. Mr. Mattrick stated that for those with no internet connection, the best solution for their gaming needs is an Xbox 360. Now, forget the condescending tone in his voice for a minute. This eighteen second clip is the exact problem with Microsoft's approach to the Xbox One in the first place: They are trying to tell us what we want and need as gamers instead of listening to us. Instead of acknowledging that their online policy for the Xbox One is a flawed one and an inconvenience to a huge percentage of their customers, they're choosing to defend this abomination to gaming, and telling those screwed over by this move to shut-up and suck it up, essentially. Obviously, the Xbox 360 is turning eight the same month the Xbox One launches. How much longer is that system going to be supported? It's an even bigger middle finger to those who were disappointed with Xbox One's online policy. Does he really think that people who can't play games with Xbox One because of no internet connection are going to stick to 360 over buying a Playstation 4? What kind of arrogance is this?

So, to sum it up:

'Nuff said. Let's let our wallets do the talking.

Next up today is a feature on games that might not have made it to the big press conferences!

E3 Day 2 - The Legend Continues

Joe Hogan here once again, and I just had to share some of these screenshots and artwork released by Nintendo today after their Nintendo Direct. They include glimpses of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Two Worlds (3DS), The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Wii U), as well as Super Smash Bros. (Wii U). Plenty of Link and company to get you excited! Note the Zelda themed fighting stages in Smash Bros. too!

The spin attack never looked so good.

You can find Zelda Dungeon's coverage of the A Link Between Two Worlds and The Wind Waker HD images by clicking those blue links! And the Smash Bros. images are from their official site! Here's a few of my favorites!

E3 Day 2 - Nintendo Direct

Oh, boy. Here we go, folks! Joe Hogan here, back with some new E3 coverage for you on The Missing Linc. Nintendo has been doing their own thing for years, and declining to host a press conference on the main stage in the first time in E3 existence is no exception. While all the main players are going about their usual press conferences, Nintendo will be broadcasting their biggest news via their popular Nintendo Directs, a series of announcement videos broadcasted throughout the year, in all corners of the world. So, strange decisions aside, where did they leave us Nintendo faithful fans with? The games touched on today during the E3 Nintendo Direct:

3DS:

• Pokemon X/Y
• Batman: Arkham Origins
• Scribblenauts Unmasked
• Shin Megami Tensei IV
• Skylanders SWAP Force
• Sonic: Lost World
• Super Smash Bros 3DS (2014)
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Two Worlds
• Yoshi's New Island
• Mario and Luigi: Dream Team

Wii U:

• Super Mario 3D World U
• MarioKart 8 (Spring 2014)
• Wii Party U
• Wii Fit U (Delay notice)
• Art Academy
• AC Black Flag
• Batman Arkham Origins
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut
• Disney Infinity
• Just Dance 2014
• Rayman Legends
• Scribblenauts Unmasked
• Disney Planes
• Skylanders SWAP Force
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist
• Sonic Lost World
• Watch Dogs
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (October 2013)
• The Wonderful 101 (August 23rd)
• Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
• Bayonetta 2
• Monolith's mystery game
• Super Smash Bros U (2014)
• Pikmin 3
• New Super Luigi U

Nintendo eShop:

• Ballpoint Universe
• Cloudberry Kingdom
• Coaster Crazy Deluxe
• Ducktales Remastered
• Dungeons and Dragons
• Mutant Mudds Deluxe
• Oddworld: New 'n Tasty
• Scam Kitty and His Buddy on Rails
• Shovel Knight
• Spin the bottle Bumpie's Party
• A World of Keflings

Mega Man joins Smash Bros! Fanboys rejoice!

First of all, I think the Nintendo Direct was a smart choice on paper, but did have quite a few hiccups. There were some streaming issues but jumping to a different stream was an easy fix. Nintendo knew they couldn't compete with Sony and Microsoft for attention, especially with both releasing new consoles this year. All eyes are on those two, while Nintendo kicks back and just showed off the games the 1st party fans have been clamoring over. And while the ship that is the Xbox One begins to collapse in on itself like a dying star, I bet the Wii U is suddenly looking a lot more appealing to some folks. While Sony clearly has the graphical superiority over Wii U, the Wii U still has no used game fee, does not need to be connected to the internet to play games, does not need to register software to the console before playing, and, unlike Playstation 4, has backwards compatibility.

All aboard the Nintendo Hype Train! Next stop: YOUR WALLET!

Nintendo knows what their fans want on Wii U. Today's lineup is clearly proof of that! Zelda, Mario, Donkey Kong, Smash Bros., and more.  I mean, just look at the list. The twin releases of the Smash Bros series, one on 3DS and the other on Wii U, look absolutely stellar. I can't wait to get my hands on both and to see how they interact with one another. Mario Kart 8's gravity-defying courses are another reason to return to your colorful go-karts as well! The Wind Waker HD also looks GORGEOUS.

Come at me, bro.

I'm a bit concerned that the new Mario, Super Mario 3D World, might be a little too safe of a gamble in terms of a new 3D Mario. It doesn't seem to be pushing any bounds like Mario 64 or Mario Galaxy dared to do. Even Super Mario Sunshine took a big risk with the entire water mechanic, but this game really just looks like a Wii U version of Super Mario 3D Land with one new power-up. A bit of a disappointment!

The Nintendo 3DS also surprisingly had a strong showing. The next installment in the handheld Zelda series has been given a name -- The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Two Worlds. A little long but it works!

Come on, we all wanted a full 3D Wii U Pokemon. This guy most of all.

Today proved the first party titles are coming, even if there weren't a few that I personally have been hoping for. Long have I prayed for Majora's Mask 3D, but was given Wind Waker HD. While I'm still excited to relive that game in glorious HD, I can't help but feel like that wasn't the game people were asking for. Just look at Operation Moonfall. But at the same time, we're getting three Zelda games soon, so that is pretty badass. I also feel like the Wii U's potential for a full Pokemon game is not yet realized either. That tablet controller is begging to battle Pokemon in HD. And Joe Sorbera would've liked a Star Fox installment! COME ON, BIG N.

What else is in store for today? I'm going to be making some rounds to cover any games not mentioned in the big press conferences, and bring you all the new news that might've fallen between the cracks, as well as a thorough look at the PS4/Xbox One battle! Check back soon!

E3 Day 1 - Sony's Press Conference

I think if you're reading this blog, Sony needs no introduction. The world waits with baited breath for more details on the Playstation 4, after Microsoft has arguably told us too much about the Xbox One. Way too much. So, what did we learn from Sony's conference this E3? Well, they've got a metric butt-ton of games. Let's take a look at the games showcased/announced:

For the Playstation 3:

• The Last of Us
• Pupeteer
• Rain
• Beyond Two Souls
• Gran Turismo 6
• Batman: Arkham Origins
• GTA 5
• Diablo III (exclusive content)

For the Playstation Vita:

• Batman: Arkham Origins
• Counter Spy
• Destiny of spirits
• Doki Doki universe
• Killzone Mercenary
• Tearaway
• Walking Dead: 40 Days
• REMAKES:
• God of War  1 and 2 HD
• FFX/X-2 HD
• Flower
• Dead Nation

And finally, for the Playstation 4:

• The Order: 1886
• Killzone: Shadow Fall
• Driveclub
• inFamous Second Son
• Knack
• The Witness
• Transistor
• Final Fantasy XIV (PS3/PS4)
• Final Fantasy XV (Versus XIII)
• Kingdom Hearts III
• Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag
• Watch Dogs
• NBA 2K 14
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• Mad Max
• Destiny

Also, the price tag was finally announced: $399, arriving this Holiday season. That's a full $100 less than the Xbox One! Yowza. They also went on to assure weary Xbox One followers that the PS4 would have NO fee to play used games, require NO registration to play new or used/borrowed games, AND does not require a constant internet connection to enjoy playing their games. I hate to say it, but I think PS4 just won the console war of this generation. Seriously, hilarious jab at Microsoft, and the crowd thought so too.

Cheeky, cheeky, Sony.

Man. I walked into this really not expecting much. But then they dropped the massive list of games. While many of them were older (looking at you, "The Last of Us") and some weren't even shown but just named, they did show a ton. The announcement of Kingdom Hearts III was met with thunderous applause, as was Final Fantasy XV (formerly Final Fantasy VersusXIII), but being PS4 exclusives. Destiny is looking pretty amazing as well. Aside from the first hour of the conference dragging, I don't have any serious complaints. Solid price for the PS4, great game lineup within the first year, and features that the gamers want. After owning a PS1 and PS2, and begrudgingly skipping over the PS3 for a lack of interesting software (in my humble opinion), I'm pretty happy to pat Sony on the back for the PS4. Being a huge 360 fan, the PS4 is shaping up to be the console that I was hoping the Xbox One would be. I guess sometimes, you just can't judge a book by its cover (just its online/used game policy).

Congratulations, a 7 year wait is over! We made it!

Well, I've been pretty obvious about my thoughts...what are YOURS? Sound off in the comments!

Be sure to check out tomorrow's Day 2 coverage, beginning shortly after Nintendo's 7 AM PDT Direct Video!!

E3 Day 1 - Ubisoft's Press Conference

Ubisoft is no stranger to the E3 main stage. They've brought us fan-favorite franchises like Assassin's Creed, the Tom Clancy series of games (Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon), Far Cry, and tons more. All eyes are on the new digital dystopian action game Watch Dogs, but that isn't all they have up their sleeves. Not by a long shot. Let's get to the nitty gritty, shall we? The games:

• Rocksmith: 2014 Edition
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist
• Rayman Legends
• Mighty Quest for Epic Loot
• South Park: The Stick of Truth
• The Crew (online cross-country driving game)
• Watch Dogs
• Just Dance 2014
• Rabids Invasion (TV series)
• Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag
• Trials Fusion/Trials Frontier
• Tom Clancy's The Division

So far, Ubisoft had the most interesting press conference for me (though I'm no fan of Aisha Tyler as host after last year, she did do a solid job). They knew their target audience, and focused more on games instead of gimmicks. Even though about half the games on that list are uninteresting to me, I was happy to watch their segments because of the conciseness and presentation of them.

I'm also really excited about the diversity of the games that I AM excited about, all from one publisher. Rocksmith 2014, Splinter Cell, Assassin's Creed, The Crew (a new IP), Watch Dogs, Rayman Legends and The Division look absolutely stellar. Similar to last year, Ubisoft really brought the thunder to the main stage, so a huge bravo to them! And really, Watch Dogs is still THE game of the next gen gaming for me. I need to get my hands on that.

I wish my iPhone could do what his does.

My one complaint was on the absence of another Tom Clancy franchise: Rainbow Six. Rainbow Six: Patriots was announced two E3s ago with a CGI "concept gameplay" trailer, showing off the general play style of the game. We've seen nothing since then about it, and a few weeks ago, major retailers removed it from their listings, and Ubisoft declined to comment. I was hoping to hear it was simply moving to next-gen consoles, but it seems like it could indeed be.

Next up for today is the media-juggernaut that is Sony! Will we finally get a look at the Playstation 4 itself? How about a price and/or release date? Keep it here to find out after they go live at 6 PM PDT!

E3 Day 1 - EA Games' Press Conference

Joe Hogan here again, guest blogging for another one of your beloved Missing Linc fixes!

Love 'em or hate 'em, nobody can deny that EA is in charge of publishing tons of games that we want, but not without incident. They're constantly at the center of controversy throughout the gaming world, and have been voted America's worst company two years in a row because of their stance on DLC, online play, and a ton of other instances of clashing with the gaming community (Mass Effect 3, anyone?). However, they're only one of two third party publisher that gets their own conference on the main stage! Ubisoft is the only other publisher that can make such a boast! So, what tidings of joy or disappointment did they have to bring to us this E3? Let's jump into the list of games showcased by EA today.

• Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (Third person action title, Xbox One/ Xbox 360)
• Peggle 2 (...?)
• Titanfall Xbox (One/Xbox360/PC)
• Star Wars: Battlefront
• Need for Speed: Rivals
• Dragon Age: Inquisition
• NBA Live '14
• Madden NFL 25
• FIFA '14
• UFC
• Battlefield 4
• Mirror's Edge 2

Peter Moore introduced EA's current next gen game engines, Ignite and Frostbite 3, and then went on to show a TON of in-game footage running on them. I gotta say, I am freakin' impressed.

Though I must say -- I genuinely don't understand the celebrity appearances. As much as I love Aaron Paul, I didn't need to see him at E3. I don't want Need for Speed anymore than I already didn't. It just feels like a weird forced parading of big names on stage to get attention, when in reality, no one is buying FIFA because Drake talked about it at E3.

I'm also unsure of the target audience for the slew of sports game. While they absolutely have their place, I feel the people that are going to buy Madden, FIFA, and NBA Live aren't tuning in live to E3 conferences. But I won't pretend to understand the politics of the gaming industry, so I digress.

My highlight? Come on. Like I even need to say it. Fine, I'll do it.

DICE, on top of developing Battlefield 4 (oh boy, the name confusions were already frequent for me) and Mirror's Edge 2 (sequel to a cult classic that I'm sure a ton of people are excited about), has taken on the game most Star Wars fans have been waiting for since 2005. And I am no exception. I think I can speak for Joe Sorbera as well when I say that so far, this is the most exciting news for us to come out of E3. But it's only the second conference! We've got a long way to go!

So EA conference viewers...what was your favorite game shown?!

Next to take the stage is golden child of third party publishers, Ubisoft! Prepare for an eye-full of Watch Dogs, Assassin's Creed, and much more! They go live at 3 PM PDT and we'll be on top of it!

E3 Day 1 - Microsoft's Press Conference

Joe Hogan here, back for the first of a slew of E3 coverage here on The Missing Linc!

No one can deny that the Xbox One had a bumpy start a few weeks ago, with their Nintendo Direct-like press conference. The gaming world was left scratching its collective head, wondering who exactly was the target audience. Such little focus was held on gaming (in exchange for secondary features such as television, Skype, Netflix, and oddly enough...Fantasy Football) that it caused a huge uproar across the entire internet. On top of it, Microsoft also did its best (though not quite well enough) to soften the blow of a ton of bad news as well. The Xbox One would feature no backwards compatibility, a fee to play used/borrowed games, a MANDATORY Kinect to function, and perhaps the most insulting, Xbox One requires an internet connection check every 24 hours to play its games. That's right. Every 24 hours, the system checks to make sure that you're connected to the internet, and if you aren't, your game comes to a screeching halt. This includes single player campaigns. Makes sense, right? (NOT!)

This morning, at 9:30 AM PDT, Microsoft began their annual E3 press conference. First off, let's drop just the facts.

The Xbox One has been announced to go on sale in November for $499 and 499 Euros (already on sale for pre-order on Amazon). The new Xbox One's version of Xbox Live will come with some new features such as in-game DVR (similar to Halo's Theater Mode), as well as the ability to stream live gameplay via Twitch. Also, Xbox Live will no longer deal in MS points, but in actual currency. Huzzah!

However, there's a RUMOR(!!!) going around that games will be $100. This is not yet confirmed, but retail sites such as Amazon and Walmart are listing Xbox One games for said price. I'll be sure to confirm if this is true or not soon.

Xbox One games announced/showcased:

• Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
• Ryse: Son of Rome  (Assassin's Creed style combat with quick-time event.)
• Killer Instinct
• Sunset Overdrive (An open world shooter, looks like Mirror's Edge meets COD, quirkier than Brink.)
• Forza 5
• Minecraft
• Quantum Break
• D4  (Telltale-looking game, murder mystery)
• Project Spark - Gives you control over terrain and time of day, sculpt with smart glass
• Crimson Dragon
• Dead Rising 3
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
• Battlefield 4
• Below
• Titanfall (Call of Duty meets Armored Core)
• Black Tusk Studios mystery game
• Halo (5...?)

Xbox 360 News and games:

• New Xbox 360 model. Available Today, looks very similar to Xbox One.
• Two free games per month if you're a Gold Member of Xbox Live. Assassin's Creed II and Halo 3 are the first freebies.
• World of Tanks coming to 360, free to play
• Max The Curse of Brotherhood -- 2D platformer, like Limbo in color
• Dark Souls II (March 2014)

And now some of my thoughts:

Huh. They didn't shove Kinect down our throats. Okay, cool! All in all, I'm not extremely impressed with the presentation. While I'm happy to see franchises such as Halo and Dead Rising return, beyond those obvious hits, I personally am not sold on this new console. Microsoft didn't address any of the concerns we gamers have (not to mention, they canceled their post-conference Q&A), but at least they kept the focus very much on games. However, there was no system-seller for me.

I have a super suit of armor, but let's protect it from all this sand with a poncho.

In terms of new IPs, I think Ryse looks the most promising. We were treated to a huge ground battle (in Rome?) with hundreds of soldiers on-screen. I admit, it was very impressive looking. In all honesty, all of the Xbox One games were pleasant to look at, and most of the games were displayed running in their game engines (as opposed to pre-rendered trailers). Cool, but again, no real system-seller. I'm pretty worried about how this system is going to sell, and as a gamer/consumer, as of right now, I will not be picking up an Xbox One myself.

I kinda hate to say it, but the highlight of the conference for me was during the snafu of Battlefield 4. After the sound cut out on Crimson Dragon, I was shocked to see that happen during their IP Battlefield. The crowd began booing and heckling the poor guy just trying to get through his part, who handled it pretty humorously, albeit nervously. And let's not forget the awkward rape joke made towards the female gamer playing Killer Instinct. I smell new memes inbound.

That phrasing isn't suggestive at all.

Anyway, we want to hear from you! What did you think of the conference? Are you going to buy an Xbox One on launch day, wait for a price drop, or not at all?

Next up, EA takes the stage at E3! What news do they have? Will we learn more about their license holding of the Star Wars franchise and what that means for the future of Star Wars games? Their briefing begins at 1:00 PM PDT, so keep your finger on that F5 key!

E3 Day 1 - Introductions

Ah! Salaam and good morning/afternoon/evening/night to you, worthy friends! Please, please, come closer!

Too close!

Now that you know what kind of sass and terrible humor you're in for, we can get started. As my gracious host and your beloved Linc'ing writer Joe Sorbera has already mentioned, my name is Joe Hogan and I'll be your tour guide through the wonderful world of gaming news for the next few days. I have zero qualifications for video game journalism, but beggars can't be choosers! Regardless, here at The Missing Linc, we'll be providing you with all the biggest gaming news to come straight out of Los Angeles' annual gaming expo, E3, and it all begins today. Fanboys will rejoice and rage, franchises will rise and fall, and Reggie Fils-Aime will bless the internet with the gift of meme ammunition.

Day 1 is always the most hectic, so expect the bulk of the info to be dropped right here today. Microsoft, Sony, EA, and Ubisoft will all be holding their huge press conferences today, with TONS of reveals and announcements. Tomorrow, Nintendo will be joining the fray with their slew of game reveals as well. Not to mention, publishers and developers will be dropping news like nobody's business throughout the convention, so be sure to keep it locked here! Our first order of business will be covering Microsoft's 9:30 AM PDT conference, so you can be sure to read a slew of info immediately afterwards! Can they redeem the already-tarnished view most of the gaming world has of the Xbox One!? Check back soon and we'll find out together! And just for anyone having trouble keeping track, here's a nifty timetable of the conferences:

In the meantime, feast your eyes on some of these awesome early morning photos of the convention center, courtesy of redbootz on Reddit! You can see the entire photo collection here.

 

E3 Day One: Joe Hogan Takes Over The Missing Linc

Happy Monday everyone, and what a day it is! The eyes and ears of the gaming community are turned intently on the Los Angeles Convention Center was we kick off E3 2013!

It's going to be a really exciting expo this year. Microsoft will try to prove that it's not trying to ruin gaming as we know it, Sony will be revealing the answer to the question "What else can we make one system do?" and Nintendo will be happily humming its own tune while the other two duke it out. And who better to cover this three day game-a-palooza than my friend, Star Wars artist, and lifelong gamer, Mr. Joe Hogan.

Literally the best picture he's taken in 10 years

Joe will be taking over The Missing Linc for the next three days, updating you all on what's new, exciting, shocking, and head-scratching in the gaming industry. When he's not doing my work for me, he's busy putting his own unique touch on familiar franchises like Star Wars and Marvel Comics (heard of 'em?) You can check out his work on his blog, www.iwillbeastarwarsartist.blogspot.com, his DeviantArt page, and his first motion comic, The Siren of Dathomir. Take it away, Hogatron!