OMG RPG

With the E3 Expo just a few days away, we are getting ourselves REALLY excited for what just might be instore for us! Despite the fact that Blizzard has abandon us in favor of running their own party in August (Blizzcon) there are at least five other publishers who we intend to get cozy with next week in SoCal:

1. Electronics Arts: While we'll leave the Maddens, NCAA's and Need for Speed stuff to the other guys we'll certainly be chatting it up with the delightful folks from BioWare who have concocted what some (Mandifesto) are considering a game of the year quality title in Dragon Age: Origins. I personally have not had a chance to play this game, but from everything I've read and heard this game is going to live up to her lofty expectations. It's got everything, a killer dev team, a deep rich storyline and most important, a great company backing it. I can't wait to get my hands on this title and hopefully the chance to report (or tweet) back some new goodies.

2. Perfect World Entertainment - These guys are setting themselves up to have a great second half of 2009. With titles like Jade Dynasty and Ether Saga to prime us for the upcoming main course of Torchlight, how can anyone argue that this could be a HUGE year for the company? I personally can't wait to get my hands on Jade Dynasty for some serious martial arts goodness. Honestly though, the chance to get my hands on Torchlight might be quite the experience

3. Sony Online Entertainment - I can tell you this, if they are showing more of Champions online than what I am presently getting in the Alpha beta, I will be sincerely upset. Only because I WANT IT ALL FOR ME! The game is progressing nicely and it will only be a matter of time before I have to share my super heroe universe with the masses, but I'll beg to hold out as long as I can. Also likely to be at the show will be the recently launched Free Realms, which is a really interesting divergence from the typical MMO style game to something I think more people overall will enjoy and certainly worth a play if you happen to stop by the expo.

4. Ubisoft - Two words (and a number) Assasin's Creed 2, sure you're probably saying "this doesn't fit into the MMO/RPG bucket that you all usually cover", well too bad. The sequel is ALWAYS key for a franchise as it determines if you're one and done, or if you have yourself a million dollar franchise. It will be REALLY interesting to see how they improve upon what to me was a nearly flawless first attempt and believe you me, if it shows up, I'll be tweeting about it (@TheRealNate).

5. Square-Enix - Well, what else can we say? Without Blizzard these guys are the top dog in our book with hopefully something relating to hands on action with Final Fantasy XIII and some sort of undisclosed new game, which we have number of theories on but the most promising one is that of a Kingdom Hearts title (wouldn't that be fantastic?). It has been some time since Square has given us an update to our beloved franchise, I'm just hoping that it doesn't dissapoint (like it ever could).

Given that every E3 seems to have some sort of surprise with it (like last year when the joke was on us). I expect there to be an announcement or two that no one sees coming. Perhaps some substantial discussions on a Fallout MMO? Maybe even Blizzard shows up and crashes the place or maybe I should stop putting unrealistic dreams in all of our heads. Soon enough my friends E3 will be here, and with it you can expect a great amount of excitement for the second half of 2009.