The world watched and waited during what seemed like the longest month of February. Soon, the mythical date of February the Twentieth came along, and the world’s eyes were glued to their computers; watching and waiting for Sony’s big conference to begin. This was no ordinary conference, however. This was the conference in which the world would catch a glimpse of the Playstation 4. Sony was quiet even as the rumors piled up around the fabled console around the last quarter of 2012. When Sony announced the February conference, people were stunned by the sudden announcement. People had so many questions: Would the console be called the Orbis? What would the new controller look like? What sort of games can we expect? As the days went by, the questions grew, and soon the Twentieth came. The best way to talk about the Playstation 4 is to focus on three things: the console specs and features, the new Dualshock 4, and some of the upcoming games that were shown.

Hey all. Since I'll be covering Sony for this year's E3 conference I figured I'd go ahead and make some predictions for what we'll likely see in the coming days. I broke it up in two sections, one for console news and one for games and how I feel certain games will rank up among the rest.

* - Game features Anthro/Furry Characters.

E3 – Sony

Console news

• No new console will be revelaed.

  • Not a surprise; predicted for a 2014-15 launch.

  • It will likely be mentioned and referenced but not talked about directly. Expect to hear more on the "Orbis" (PS4) at next year's E3 or just before.

• Playstation move's fate?

  • Is it dead in the water or is there some glimmer of hope?

• PSVita

  • PSV bundle?

  • Price cut?

  • Games, games, GAMES!

• Current state of the PS3

  • Price cut?

  • Bundle?

  • State of online network.

Games

• “Assassins Creed 3” (Most anticipated) Release date: 10/31/2012

  • Very rarely do we see a game venture into the American Revolution but AC3 does just that. Staring a new protagonist (so long Ezio) and set among the terrain between Boston and New York, we should expect tons of new mechanics and a fresh story line to reinvigorate the franchise.

  • Trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiVJG_mrtFo

• “The Last of Us” (Best survival game) Release Date: TBA

  • The Last of Us is already looking intense. Scavanging for ammo, fighting off infected enemies with your hands before making an escape to live another day. This isn't your typical post apocalypse game.

  • Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWzcYbtZQrk

• “*Playstation All Stars*” Release date: TBA

  • Expect all your favorite Sony characters in a Super Smash Brothers style fighting game. Look for a few of our favorite anthro/furry characters to make an appearance. While it would seem incredibly similar to SSB, it has taken a very different visual style. Expect more violent characters and very real on map hazards.

  • Preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aVxcHTD1fY

• “Tomb Raider” Release Date: 5/5/2013

  • This new version of Tomb Raider will put us back into the shoes of our favorite female archaeologist-action hero Laura Croft. But this time we'll be controlling the young version of her and discovering a chapter of her life before the one we know. Heavy action sequences, puzzles, gunplay, stealth and booby traps all await us on March 5^th of next year.

  • Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol_-QGlwRqc

• Black Ops 2 (Most Expected reveal) Release Date 11/13/2012

  • I'm sure no one was sitting around thinking to themselves, “Will there be a CoD title at E3 this year?” It's practically an E3 tradition and no wonder why I'm labeling this the most expected game of the expo. But as far as the game is concerned, now's the chance for Treyarch to show us what they've got. No more flat color, simple gameplay, fisher price my first FPS. If Treyarch has what it takes, we'll see it here. I'm actually looking forward to this title, which is odd considering I'm usually pretty turned off by CoD releases.

  • Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3tedlWs1XY

• “God Of War: Ascension” Release date: TBA

  • What makes GoW:A an interesting title to watch, expecially for fans of the franchise is that it is supposedly set before the events of the first game. What does this mean for gameplay mechanics? No one really knows yet but we should get some answers this E3.

  • Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TWl0FhCi34

• “Infamous 3”?

  • Maybe? No? We'll see.

• “Borderlands 2” (Most guns!) Release date: 9/18/2012

  • Eight-Hundred and seventy bazillion guns is how this gun is advertised and if you were a fan of Borderlands 1 you know why. No story details have been released but that's not necessary a bad thing considering that story isn't why you're playing Borderlands. Notable features include the addition of at least 2-player split screen, expandned skill trees and the return of everyone favorite robot companion, claptrap.

  • Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCWJUSulnro

• “Hitman: Absolution” Release date: 11/20/2012

  • Fans were most unimpressed with early demos and gameplay video of the the game and it's no surprise why. Hitman has always been a series of killing puzzles. You are placed into a situation where you must kill person X and left to your own devices to accomplish that. But early gameplay showed the game to be more linear and less emphasis on playing how YOU want. We'll just have to wait to find out if we're right.

  • Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ziDZ9d2ceo

• “Resident Evil 6” Release date: 11/20/2012

  • Early gameplay it putting this game back in line with the previous installments (4 and 5). With the recent failure of Operation Raccoon City, can the RE series really make the move from survival horror to action or is there still chance to return back to the old formula. As the trailer shows, it could be difficult to see raw gameplay footage and figure out how this is supposed to compete with every other third-person, cover-based shooter. Time will tell if the game can manage to be a success among the mass.

  • Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS_bGpe9qE8

• “*Beyond Good & Evil 2*” (Furriest game of the expo) Release date: TBA

  • It's been a while since we've had a game staring a near full cast of anthro/furry characters so lets all keep our eyes out for this one at E3. Besides a leaked screenshot and teaser trailer, we don't have a lot of current info on this title.

  • Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkCXE1l5MVI

• “Far Cry 3” (Best non-halo/CoD shooter of the expo) Release date: 9/4/2012

  • Removing the supernatural/science fiction and adding the open world action we've been craving is what we're getting from the next installment in the Farcry series. This time around we're headed back to the tropics to survive a vicious general and his militia. The objective: keep breathing.

  • Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6gnOVJsCsM

• “Metal Gear Rising: Revengance” (Most absurd take on a known franchise) Release date: Q1 2013

  • It's been no surprise that the next metal gear will take a complete 180 from previous games. Even the earliest gameplay showed fast paced, high action, in your face slice and dice mechanics that seemed to reject stealth for hacking enemies to pieces in large groups. One interesting feature returning from the past is the ability to play though non-lethal.

  • Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ONT6-8B94Y

Much more information will be announced tomorrow. Don't forget to tune into the live stream on youtube and listen to us tonight as we chat predictions.

It would appear that EA is either pulling a great promotional stunt or dangling a carrot in front of all our faces. EA has announced that they will be sending several coppies of their upcoming game Mass Effect 3 into the upper atmosphere attached to weather ballons. Each game will be equipped with a GPS tracking device so you can follow them around via the main Mass Effect website.

But wait! There's more...there's always more.

Once these ballons fall from the sky, they'll bring a few lucky fans early copies of ME3 weeks before the rest of the world. So start tracking soldier!

Source

Join us tonight over on the GF TV page for a live podcast featuring some of Gaming Furever's members!

We'll be discussing recent newsworthy events, the best boss battles ever, and what we've all been playing. Be present in the chat room to ask questions to the hosts, submit feedback, and watch along as we have a live playthrough of the Mass Effect 3 demo.

One lucky listener will become the featured member of the week and have an interview done with them for the site!

Be HERE at 10 PM ET tonight!

Those looking for their furry, fast, and ferocious Sonic memorabilia fix should be happy to know that SEGA has recently launch the "Sonic the Hedgehog Official Merchandise" store online. The current offerings include collectible figurines, clothing apparel, school suppies, posters, phone covers, and much more. It covers the old and the new, celebrating the Sonics and characters of the past and present games.

Currently, the store is only available to ship in Europe, but SEGA has said that a North American version is planned. Some of our favorites include the Werehog and Jet the Hawk figurines, seen below!

Link to store

For anyone who has been following the epic saga that is the "Stop Online Piracy Act", there is finally a small bit of good news for those against it (which includes this website.)

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and proposer of the Act, Lamar Smith, has announced that he's removing the DNS blocking provision from the Act. The DNS blocking provision would have allowed the government to block the website from being accessed from in the US in any form. Though it is still possible under the bill for someone to request the cutoff of revenue sources for a site.

Because of this recent shifting of direction, Darrell Issa, chair of the House Oversight Committee, has announced that the bill won't be voted on yet. A hearing was scheduled for January 18 but that has now been canceled.

"While I remain concerned about Senate action on the Protect IP Act, I am confident that flawed legislation will not be taken up by this House. Majority Leader [Eric] Cantor has assured me that we will continue to work to address outstanding concerns and work to build consensus prior to any anti-piracy legislation coming before the House for a vote." Issa said.

On the other side of the room, Sen. Patrick Leahy has announced that the ISP blocking component of the Senate's PIPA act will be removed through a managers' amendment, so that the other parts of the bill can be pushed through while the ISP part is studied further.

A small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Maybe they are listening now.

According the NPD Group, the preliminary estimate for total consumer spending on gaming content on new physical video and PC games, used games, game rentals, subscriptions, digital full-game downloads, social network games, downloadable content, and mobile games, is between $16.3 to $16.6 billion. This total is down approximately 2 percent when compared to 2010.

The group also concluded that spending on new physical content at retail continues to account for the majority of the total money spent on games content. U.S. retail sales of new physical video game content, which includes portable, console and PC game software, generated revenues of $9.3 billion, an 8 percent decline over the $10.1 billion generated in 2010.

"Overall industry results are not entirely surprising given that we are on the back end of the current console lifecycle, combined with the continued digital evolution of gaming. Core gamers continue to be engaged and spend on established franchises across both the digital and physical format using multiple devices for different gaming occasions," said Anita Frazier, industry analyst, The NPD Group.

Though gaming sales were down this year, bright spots came from HD console software sales, which were up 9 percent in 2011, as well as increases in the consumer spend on used games sales, full-game digital downloads and downloadable content, and mobile gaming apps, which partially offset declines in the other areas of consumer spend on content.

Games in Development / Cancelled / In Hiatus

Last Update: May 3rd, 2013 - Added Kaiju Combat | Games to add: Blizzard Pets, Neopets, Dusty Revenge

Kaiju Combat

What is it?: Kaiju Combat is the final word in giant-monster battle games.  It takes the core team & technology from the Pipeworks/Atari Godzilla fighting games, and merges it with the design input & creative output of our amazing fans.

Plot Overview: Giant monsters are fighting. That's really all we've seen at this point.

Status: In Production (TBD)

Website: http://sunstone.co/games/kaiju-combat/

Starbound

What is it?: Starbound is a brand new game undergoing active development by Chucklefish. Starbound contains both quests and story driven missions, buried inside its vast sandbox universe. 

Plot Overview: Starbound begins with you fleeing your homeworld in a space shuttle, just as it’s destroyed by an unknown enemy. With nothing to guide it, the escape pod shoots into space without direction, becoming hopelessly lost in a sea of stars. As luck would have it, the space shuttle makes contact with an abandoned space station and an adventure begins that will take you hurtling across the universe. 

Status: In Production (TBD)

Website: http://playstarbound.com/

PHAIDROS: Ave Mundi Luminar

What is it?: A old school classic style JRPG being developed by Falcraft Studios. PHAIDROS features: A sideview combat system using Victor's animated battlers and YANFLY's ACE engine. A crafting system for items , weapons and armor based on Kread-EX's engine. Magical synergy reminiscent of Chrono Trigger's combination spells, with its own twist and increased level of strategy. Episodic nature, each chapter is part of a greater, epic whole. The characters you meet in the introductory chapter will grow, with specific chapters dedicated to their specific stories, contrasted with the greater arc. Phaidros: Episode One will sell for about $4.99.

Plot Overview: Phaidros' story centers around the theme of immortality. Is there any value in a limited lifetime? Can there value in one that never ends? And how far does one go to attain it?

Status: In Production (Release TBD - Summer 2013)

Website: http://pab562.wix.com/maus-merryjest#!Phaidros/c20l6

Antilia

What is it?: Antilia is an online community game from Right Brain Games. Antilia is a massively-multiplayer online role-playing game (mmorpg), set in a unique, beautiful fantasy world. Antilia is a sophisticated virtual world simulator - populated with exotic fantasy creatures and a unique style of lore.

Plot Overview:  Set on the planet of Forra - Antilia features three intelligent races each struggling to discover the secrets of their magical world: The Taipii pursue the arts, build great cities, and discover a dangerous but powerful form of magic. The Sakii rule the sky, and have mastered self transmutation - capable of taking many shapes and forms. Underground, the Reisuii build wondrous machines, and carve vast cities in The Deep.

Status: In Production (Release TBD - Currently going through alpha tests)

Website: http://www.antilia-game.com/index.php

Beyond Good & Evil 2

What is it?: Beyond Good & Evil 2 (working title) is the sequel to the 2003 video game Beyond Good & Evil, currently in development by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft. Michel Ancel, the creator of the original game, is back as lead designer of the sequel. Ancel has stated that the game is in development and that they are experimenting with new development practices to keep the development team small and preserve its artistic spirit.

Plot Overview: Beyond Good & Evil 2 will be in continuity with the first game, with a big variety of levels, lots of emotion in the gameplay, and characters we care about. This time we are dealing with planet's future, and the relationship with animals.

Status: In Production, but release on hiatus until next generation of consoles.

Overgrowth

What is it?: Overgrowth is a 3d action-adventure game for Mac, Windows, and Linux, coming soon from the independent game studio, Wolfire Games. It is the spiritual successor to Lugaru.

Plot Overview: Overgrowth picks up where Lugaru left off, with the world in a state of de facto anarchy. After killing the corrupted king, Turner, the main character, refused to take his place, instead choosing to leave the monarchy headless and wander the island in search of some new purpose. Overgrowth's setting appears to build on that premise, as concept art shows a chaotic world with tall structures overrun by vegetation, and inhabited by fierce rabbits, wolves, rats, cats and dogs, trying to survive with simple weapons and makeshift armor. Some concept art shows a city with an organic layout.

Status: In Production

Website: http://www.wolfire.com/overgrowth