Next week I'll be heading up to the Moscone Center in San Francisco for the Game Developer's Conference 2009. GDC is one of those shows where the devlopers flock but the public doesn't really get access to the games their are hawking, which is a shame. That's why I'm asking you, dear omgRPG readers, what games are you looking for information on? Now's your time to speak up, because next week I will be hip deep in game demos, aqnd won't come up for air until Friday.
I know what games I am interested in seeing, and all of them are listed under the RPG genre. Yeah, I know, surprising, right? Hit the jump to peruse my list of games I'm dying to get my hands on at GDC.
10. Runes of Magic:
Runes of Magic launched today, another in a series of fantasy free-to-play MMOs. I haven't gotten a chance to play the game as of yet, but the graphics look interesting, as do the high number of players they are boating came out to test the game. I'm not sure if the closed beta really did draw 600,000 players or the strangely overgrown frogs did. Either way, I'm intrigued enough by the art style to sit down and give the game a try next week.
9. League of Legends:
Yep, I already saw it, but the build I played and fell in love with included none of the most exciting RPG features. I am dying to see what they are doing with the Summoner meta character, becasue something tells me that this is one of the great RPG innovations of 2009. The idea that the role you play is someone who is in turn controlling characters in a game is truly an exciting one. Plus Annie was killer fun to play. Who doesn't like rampaging teddy bears?
8. Star Wars: The Old Republic:
This is near the bottom of the simply because I don't hold out much hope of seeing it. When the announcement was made weeks ago, there was little more than a logo and a couple pieces of concept art to show. Now it's March, and no matter how excited I am by the prospect of a good Star Wars MMO (sorry SWG, but they cutt off your legs and then asked you to dance), I am not holding my breath for a playable build this early in the game. My gut says we won't see anything close to a demo for another year.
7. Final Fantasy XIII:
Another long shot, but I've always been a dreamer. I am hoping to get a chance to try out this faboo combat system of theirs, and see Lightining in action for myself. Now that Square Enix's other properties are coming to the fore, I expect a lot of talk about FF XIII I"m just not sure how easy it will be to get my mitts on the demo. I might have to get my shoving arm ready.
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6. Dragon Quest IX:
The recently delayed Dragon Qeust IX should be playable at GDC, even if only in the Japanese format. While I prefer my RPGs on consoles I don't have to carry around in my pocket, this has been a game that I've been very much interested in playing for a while now. The question remains, will the bugs that pushed back the release date in Japan be so gruesome that they cannot demo the game here in the States? We shall see.
5. Mass Effect 2:
The only reason this isn't higher on the list is that we know it's so very far off. We just got the teaser trailer for heaven's sake. That won't stop me from stalking the Bioware folks to see what information I can sniff out about the game. Exactly how are you supposed to have a Mass Effect game without Shepard anyway?
4. The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf:
This game was positively built to be played on the console, and I can't wait to get to play Witcher the way I dreamed it should be played. To me this game sparked more than a sudden fascination with Polish folk legends; it signaled the rise of the Eastern European developer. We all know that Western Europe can make games, but the Eastern European sensibilities are definitely darker, and their themes are all the more intriguing because they aren't the same old tired moralities we've known for decades.
3. Champions Online:
I've always been a fan of Cryptic Studios. Simply put, I think they have what it takes to create a successful MMO in a cutthroat arena where most online games are going free-to-play or going under. Knowing that Champions is based off of a pen and paper RPG gives me great hope for a richly unique world, interesting characters, and a kick ass game.
2. Unnamed Bethesda MMO:
would love nothing more than to report a big fat MMO announcement to you guys next week. Do I think it likely? Hell no. But that doesn't mean it won't happen. Whether this would be the oft-rumored Oblivion project, a Fallout one, or an MMO from a completely different IP, the Bethesda MMO will definitely be a game worth playing, whenever they decide to give us the ujuicy details.
1. Dragon Age: Origins:
I've been reading the prequel novel (don't worry, a review will follow as soon as I'm done, I promise), I've gotten a chance to see the game in its middle stages, and eveything I learn about Ferelden makes me want to move there and open up an apothecary shop. Dragon Age will set the bar for enthralling RPG expereinces, for branching storylines that suck the player in, and I simply cannot wait to play it again.
