This past E3, the new console from Nintendo was announced called the Wii U. Needless to say it was the probably the most exciting news in hardware for the entire event. We were lucky enough to get our hands on one, and got to see what all the fuss was about.

There were several tech demos for us to experience, including Catch Mii, Battle Mii, Shield Pose, Mario, and best of all, Zelda. Each demo gave us a different scenario to play through and different ways to use the Wii U. Each of the demos was shown on a TV displaying in full 1080p. Though we aren’t sure what resolution the touchscreen has just yet.

In Catch Mii, you use the Wii U to have an aerial view of a courtyard in which four other players are trying to hunt you down. The catch is that they only have their peripherals to find you. You had to look at the Wii U screen to see where other players are coming from while using the joystick to move your character wearing a Mario cap out of sight. This was definitely a lot to take in, but was easy to catch on and really fun to play! It added a whole new dimension to split-screen multiplayer games, as you have a distinct advantage over the other players (though they do have you outnumbered) on your private screen.

Battle Mii was likely one of my top two favorite demos. You had to utilize both joysticks, and could aim at opponents by tilting the Wii U forward, back, left or right. This was a whole new way to play as you weren’t just moving the joysticks and staring at a screen. Again, being the player with the Wii U, you have the upper hand, since you can fly around, and the others are stuck on the ground.

Mario was great fun, but didn’t seem to utilize the Wii U in very many new ways. Shaking the screen would make you spin, but much other than that, it was a duplicate screen. I’m not really torn up over this as it is still a tech demo, and essentially just the same Mario game that we saw on the Wii.

Shield Pose was the first demo we got to experience, and it definitely was impressive. A cartoonish skeleton pirate and his ghostly minions are firing plunger arrows at you, but give you a warning. The Wii U was used to see arrows coming from the center ship, left and right ships, and any arrows coming in from the sky. The Wii U was a completely different screen from what you saw on the TV screen, and moved with you, as opposed to having one set screen. If you turned around, you saw what was behind you. There was a full 360-degree view that is going to make for some pretty amazing games in the future.

Last but not least, the best demo (likely because of it’s content) was Zelda. It was not a playable demo, but showed us how a Zelda game might look if it was on the Wii U. There was the option to change camera angles and move the camera in those different angles, the ability to have the map on the Wii U screen, or as a side screen on the TV, and a daytime and nighttime button that will allow you to choose whether you’re looking at day or night modes in-game. The fangirl inside of me had a meltdown as I was looking at Link in HD, and he was full of Hylian manliness.

Seeing the release video for the Wii U tells us that the tech demo games we played through are just the tip of the iceberg. There are countless capabilities for this new console, and I can’t wait to see what is going to come of it.

Microsoft gave us a chance to jump around with the Kinect and several of the new games that we will see coming out soon. As we all know, the Kinect lets you interact with the screen without the need for a controller, but it wasn’t until now that I was really impressed. The game titles I got to demo included Disneyland, Star Wars, Dance Central 2, Kinect Fun Labs, and Sports Season 2.

Disneyland is about as close to bringing the actual Disneyland into your home as you can get. The park has been completely replicated on this game, and you have the ability to go virtually wherever you want. The actors and actresses from the actual park did the voices for these characters as well, so you really are getting the full Disney experience. Walking up to the Disney characters, you wave to start conversation, and can give them a hug. Depending on who it is, their individual personality will show through; Peter Pan will act as any young boy would to a hug, by acting as if you were slathered in cooties. Each mini-game is inspired from an actual ride in Disneyland. Peter Pan’s flight transports you to Never Land and has you soaring through the air. Moving your arms like an airplane, you control your direction left and right, and flapping your arms will take you higher, while crouching down will take you lower.

Star Wars on the Kinect was definitely one of my favorites, as I grew up with the original movies and had dreams of becoming a Jedi. This game not only fulfilled my childhood dreams, but also let me use a lightsaber to hack things up. On screen, you hold the lightsaber in your right hand, and use your left hand to use the force. By leaning forward with your arms behind you, you can force run towards your next victim. You can choose to either have melee combat with opponents, or use the force and destroy them from afar. You must also use the force to lift objects that are in your way when travelling. There is a chance that you’ll get a little drunk with Jedi power, but it’s best to not get too greedy, as we know where that can lead. This is definitely a game worth keeping an eye out for and should make an appearance in Q4 2011.

Playing Dance Central 2 was definitely a highlight for the Kinect as well. The newest feature for this upcoming game is that you may now play simultaneously with a second player, or with a group of up to four. The first in this series was still a lot of fun, but being able to be beside a friend and play has made this much more appealing. Even if you decide that you want to enter the game after a song has already started, you can jump in without any problem of the Kinect reading your movements. I’m a little sorry to say that my dance moves weren’t the best, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have a good time. This is definitely something I’m going to look forward to, and we will be seeing this game on the shelves in Q4 2011 as well.

Kinect Fun Labs is definitely going to be a hit for anyone who wants scan in special items, or would like a customized avatar. There are many different games such as Bobble Head, where you can create a bobble head of yourself, Googly Eyes, where you can scan in an item, and make it into a googly-eyed monster, Kinect Me, where you can scan in yourself and make a perfect replica of yourself to be used as an avatar, and several others as well. This is already available as it released on June 6^th.

One of the newer games released for the Kinect this year at E3 was Sports Season 2. I cannot say that I’m even remotely fond of sports, but this game was actually pretty fun. It was even informative enough that I learned a little bit in the process of playing the game. The sports that I had the chance to try out were football and golf; neither of which I’m fond of in real life. These virtual versions helped me to understand how these sports work, and were actually pretty entertaining. You don’t have to worry about not knowing what you’re doing, as there are lights and signals that will instruct you along the way. You can expect to see this game come out around the holiday season of this year.

I do have an Xbox at home, but sadly am without a Kinect. It’s looking like I’m going to have to commandeer one from a friend to play these games when they come out. There was no reason for me to like the Kinect before, but I gladly admit that I am not a believer.

The Modern Warfare series has been dominating the FPS scene for the last couple of years. However, while the console versions of these titles have been good, they have been less than satisfying for PC gamers. A lack of dedicated servers and rampant hacking has left a sour taste in many people’s mouths. So what is going to be the next big FPS for PC gamers? If EA and DICE have their way, it’s going to be Battlefield 3.

While we were at E3 we were fortunate enough to get a little bit of hands-on time with the title. We were thrust into Rush Mode, with squads made up of other people at the booth. As such, it was easy to get right into the action, since the mode was already familiar from previous games.

There were four classes to choose from, which are Assault Soldier, Support, Engineer and Recon. These are mostly the same classes that you are already know and love. The biggest change here is that the Assault and Medic have essentially been combined to form the Assault Soldier. What this means is that you’ll be able to chose from either a med pack and paddles or grenade launcher in your arsenal.

I spent much of my time battling my way across a park in search of AA guns to destroy. The fighting would get intense, especially when the wall you were using as cover would suddenly crumble away from a rain of bullets or an explosion.

What was most impressive about this demo was how beautiful the graphics looked. We were fighting it out in a park located in Paris. There were times that I would stop to simply gaze around to take it all in. The Eiffel Tower could be seen off in the distance, rendered in its full glory.

Sadly, our time with the demo was very short, but it was enough to leave us wanting for more. We’ll keep you posted on further updates for the game as they are announced.

At this year’s E3, there were a lot of games shown off, and certainly no shortage of MMO’s. However, the one I had my eye on has remained the same for several years now. I’m of course talking about Star Wars: The Old Republic. Being a huge fan of the Star Wars universe, (as well as a disappointed fan of Star Wars Galaxies) I’ve been looking forward to seeing what BioWare can do in the MMO genre.

I was able to spend a bit of time with a hands-on demo of the game. I took on the role of a higher-level character, so that I could jump straight into the action. My character for the demo was a level 26 human smuggler. She had a companion droid that would help out with cover fire, and could be upgraded to do a bit of healing in the battlefield. You could also converse with the companion, though it wasn’t always up for chatting.

My character was in the midst of a World Quest. If you’re not familiar with the term, these are a chain of quests found on each world, that take you through a complex story, with each lasting several hours. I was on the planet of Tatooine, where I was sent to dispatch a group of Tusken Raiders, who had stolen something rather valuable.

After jumping on my speeder bike, I headed across the desert to the location I was given. As promised, there were a group of the sand people who were more than happy to give me my first taste of combat. The first thing I did was make sure that my companion was out and set to lay down cover fire. Then, I set down my portable cover and prepared my attack.

The portable cover system was really interesting, and not something that I have seen in other MMO’s that I’ve played. When I think of a smuggler caught in a shoot-out, I usually picture them hiding around a corner and poking out to make shots that count. This portable cover really added to that part of the experience.

From there, I was able to line up a number of ranged attacks to take down my enemies. A combination of blaster fire and thrown explosives kept the fight interesting, but certainly flowing in my favor. After picking up the item I was looking for, I went on to find a Sith that was hiding out nearby. I found him in a cave, after fighting my way through more of the raiders.

Once found, we discover that the Sith we’re after is on the brink of death. I approached him and began a conversation. Instead of having mouth movements with lines of text, this conversation (like every other in the game) was completely voiced. Also, unlike many other MMO’s, my conversation with this NPC is not straightforward. Instead, I am given a number of choices throughout the conversation, each of which not only leads you down the dark or light path, but also determines what happens after you are finished talking. In this case, I could either slay the sith in anger, or leave him to possibly recover.

What is really interesting is that the choices you make in these conversations don’t just influence what happens immediately after you stop talking, but rather it can impact what happens later on in the game. Since my demo only lasted a limited amount of time, I wasn’t able to see how these choices impacted later gameplay. Also, the choices aren’t just limited to conversations with NPCs. I encountered an item that I could destroy, so as to prevent someone else from reading it. I’ll be interested to see how far they take these choices in the finished product.

Overall, the game did play like many traditional MMO’s. However, the voiced dialogue and the ability to make choices in your conversations really made it a step above others I’ve played in the past. I like knowing that I’m not on a linear path, and that even in small ways, I can make a difference in how the game plays out for me. I’ll be looking forward to seeing the full finished product when it is released.

While at C2E2 a couple of weekends back, we had the pleasure of meeting up with Claudio Sanchez. He is most well-known for his work with Coheed and Cambria, as well as The Amory Wars. Since we try to promote creativity here at GamerFront, it’s nice to chat with someone who has experienced success in their artistic endeavors such as this. Be sure to check out the newest comic, and catch the band when they head out on tour a little later this year.

Inside the heart of every gamer exists the desire to create and produced the very games they love to play – this is very true. Sometimes gamers decide to give criticism as their way to contribute to the industry, and sometimes they jump in head first to put their skills to use in the production role of the gaming world. Some local college students got together and did just that, and that resulted in one of the most phenomenal games around today – Portal.

I was lucky enough to attend a call out meeting for a new club at Indiana University in Bloomingon. The club was aptly titled the “Hoosier Gaming Club,” and their goal was simple:

“Our goal is to be able to provide students here with the chance to create and produce unique, real, and playable video games.”

That was an opening statement handed out by Derrick Fuchs, the co-creator of the Hoosier Gaming Club. Fuchs spoke about his own aspirations as well as those of other gamers and friends he is acquainted with.

After going around the room and exchanging introductions, those who attended explained what they wanted to get out of the club. The members of this newly-found club want to give their all to create the next great video game, and if nothing more than that to gain the knowledge and practice of using the very tools that leading companies use in the industry today.

The meeting was a very welcome and warm experience. Everyone who spoke showed great excitement and willingness to be part of a team, as well as the desire to provide the best they could to create something amazing.

The gaming club intends to meet every week, on Monday, in the Fine Arts building of the IU Bloomington campus. Hopefully this will be the start of another great project, such as Portal.

Fuchs explained that as long as the determination is there, that the power to create something amazing is there. All it takes is the right amount of willpower, skill, and the want to produce a truly amazing game.

I plan on attending these weekly meetings, to provide all I can to help out these amazing idealists, and to become part of a team working toward a common goal that we love.

The gaming industry is huge, and it’s not dissipating. The Hoosier Gaming Club intends on providing student and non-student gamers alike with the opportunity to put their names on the grid, and to create something that will make a mark on the industry.

If you’re in the Bloomington, IN area and want to bring your skills to the table for the gaming industry, then check out the Hoosier Gaming Club. You won’t regret it.

If you guys have been watching our site, then you know that our friends over at IU Gaming were hosting a LAN War. The event took place on Saturday, November 13th at noon and lasted until noon that following Sunday, November 14th. GamerFront was lucky enough to be added on as one of the sponsors of the event, and we got to take a look at what IU Gaming had to offer, which lead to an amazingly fun time at a great event.

More coverage will be up for the event later this week, but for now take a look below at a little introductory video I made while at the event, covering in short what it was like to experience a great atmosphere.

Applebee’s Bloomington decided to hold one big fragfest of a party to celebrate the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops. There were amazing drink specials, $4 appetizers (including wings!), and enough Call of Duty to make your head explode. We here at GamerFront had the amazing opportunity to aid in sponsoring the event, along with Gamestop, and I had the pleasure of providing coverage.

Many civilians showed up for the event, and there was a great turnout overall. A Modern Warfare 2 tournament was held, with prizes going to the top players. First place received a $50 gift card to Gamestop, 2nd was awarded the Limited Edition Call of Duty: Black Ops strategy guide, 3rd received 1600 Microsoft Points, and 4th got a spiffy t-shirt.

The tournament winners in all their glory.

Along with the drink specials, appetizers, and no-scopes, people at Gamestop were getting busy. The store closed at 9 PM, and then reopened just a half an hour later to get finalized pre-orders on copies of Black Ops.

People waited in line for their chance to put their hands on the game, and many just wanted to get theirs, and get back to base. I can’t say I blame them though, I was excited for Black Ops myself!

Waiting in line, a gamer's test of patience.

There was a live DJ, great music, and an all around great atmosphere.

Of course, the Gamestop staff were more than happy to help customers, and make it a grand experience for all who attended.

All in all, it was a great event and I cannot wait to attend the next one. With great food and drink specials, friendly service, and a unique gaming experience, Applebee’s Bloomington knows how to put on a party, and they do it well.

We want to say thanks to the staff of Applebee’s, Gamestop, and all others who made this night possible. A special thanks to Dan and Mike (pictured above in the black and green respectively) for brainstorming the idea of the event and putting it to reality. I had a great night, loads of fun, and made memories that will last a lifetime. If you are ever in the Bloomington, Indiana area, stop in for an amazing time at the Bloomington Applebee’s.

The next release party scheduled will be on Monday, December 6th for the release of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. I absolutely cannot wait to be able to attend this event.

Thank you Applebee’s and Gamestop staff for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this great event. I look forward to being able to continue sharing moments like these.

Visit Bloomington Applebee’s on Facebook.

Alright, it’s Friday, and you’re probably tired of hearing about Youmacon already, right? Well before we say goodbye to our coverage of the event, we have one last thing to share with you. During the Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged panel, LittleKuriboh talked about the strife that he endured as a youth, dealing with bullying and being an outcast (to which all of us here can relate). At one point he said that “my life would be meaningful if I could just make someone laugh.” Which is essentially the thought that lead him to where he is today. It was a moving speech, and I don’t believe there was a dry eye in the house.

Of course it wasn’t all tears and heartfelt sentiments at the panel. After kicking off the Patty Cake Championship and debuting a couple of brand new videos (head over to the Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged site and check them out) he decided to close with a song. This was a little musical number put on by LittleKuriboh, members of Team Four Star and a few other guests at the panel. I can honestly say, after this I’ll never hear ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ the same way again.

Thank you Martin, you’re an inspiration to us all.

[ Team Four Star ]

[ Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged ]

The members of Team Four Star aren’t just good at voice acting. Rather, Lanipator and Takahata101 both have a higher calling. That’s right, I’m talking about Patty Cake. These two Patty Cake powerhouses duked it out for the right to the title (and belt) of the Patty Cake Champion during LittleKuriboh’s Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged panel. Check out the footage below to see how the battle went down.

[ Team Four Star ]

[ Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged ]