It seems like the next gen is just over the tipping point to becoming a true reality with all the talk of new systems, games and even new companies joining the world of video gaming full of all kinds of creative ideas to offer as well as a return for many of the latest series which many would have no hesitation in calling blockbusters. However, even before we've hit the release of the PS4 or Xbox One, a few new number of games and series have been announced from well known developers, Ubisoft and EA (or rather in Ubisoft's case, leaked) who have brought many games like Assassin's Creed and Rayman to Battlefield and FIFA which is just likely to sprout much more enthusiasm from the many gamers awaiting what these could possibly be.
Although in Ubisoft's case, it's no secret or rather no hide and seek to people who have leaked the latest number of IPs which have yet to be verified. After all, these could just be the dream games of an avid fan. One that is very interested in Assassin's of the Caribbean but if they are true, it wouldn't hurt to analyse the games we've just been shown. So let's see what we've got!
What do you think? Stunned? Confused? Wondering what all these games are? Well many of these games may not be as new as you might think. In fact games like Child of Light was only announced less than a month ago and I've decided that's a good place to start on the list.
Child of Light
We haven't got much insight in to the game or the series whether it be pics, trailers... or a huge amount of info about the whole game aside from a few things that it will be an Japanese Role-Playing (JRPG will save you a lot of spaces) inspired game built on the same type of engine yet by a different Ubisoft team which developed Far Cry 3. Not Rayman.
What is the the purpose of this? Many games over the years have been very much based on shooting, being the strongest, listening to fellow screaming whilst not watching a Michael Bay movie, etc. This game is being developed to become one of the opposite since despite being the same developer of being mauled by sharks or shooting a whole bunch of bullets, it will be a more peaceful game, a more artistic version to bring to life a fairy-tale adventure you might not be able to find in your local library. Considering this, it reminds me of some indie games like Journey. It won't be advertised like crazy like Assassin's Creed 3 yet it does excite me as I'm sure it would with many other gamers since even though I'm the artistic type (spilling paint was a bit of a problem), I still enjoy the calm and peaceful settings of a game, moving far away from the realistic kind so in a way, a bit like a holiday. 
Now, the next game:
Valiant Hearts and Autodance
Aside from a hyme from the First World War, I really don't know what this could be. Most likely a brand new series that we haven't heard of or some sort of reboot of series that didn't go so well or maybe just wasn't very noticed. In that case, I can tell someone at Ubisoft's nostalgia must have kicked in. Maybe it could be some sort of Kindgom Hearts spin-off or something based on a series like Dragon's Moon or Dragon's Quest although don't get your hopes up. I'm just thinking out loud here!
However for Autodance, many people may believe it has something to do with some more dancing games which wouldn't be surprising considering the whole bunch of Just Dance games that have been released like wild fire but I think it could be more driving based. Not that we're gonna see dancers on top of racing cars (although there's always the possibility), games like The Crew and Driver are well in Ubisoft's hands and I could see them making more games, especially from Ubisoft Reflections team. Maybe a new direction with a simulation game although I have my doubts since The Crew has been in development for a while, well over 2 years in fact. There wouldn't be much point in releasing another racing game right during another's release although it could bring a crowd of old traditional Need For Speed fans who have waited for more city inspired environments and customization... then again, that's pretty much The Crew. If it is yet another Dancing game, I think it could possibly be more retro based like those you find in parties with lights flying everywhere which would work well with Microsoft's Illumiroom.
Unless we party in garages or something. Yet another mysterious game we don't have a great deal to say about although considering this paragraph, I've written quite a bit and as I write more, I just keep on making this paragraph bigger so I'll move on now...
Rayman Fiesta Run and Rabbids Big Bang
No doubt will this Rayman game be gameplay-inspired by Temple Run. If it wasn't, what's with the name? Rayman is one huge franchise for all the gamers that can remember it exists and nowadays, it's gone back to it's routes with a 2D game where Ubisoft, despite believing in the Wii U console, may think it's too risky for now to release games exclusive to that platform unless the handheld picks up some more sales which was why Rayman: Legends went from an exclusive game... to available for every game on the market! So it's likely it'll be available for many Ubisoft fans unless of course they make the Ubisoft console of course, however it sounds like it could potentially be a digitally game only which would make sense if it becomes a much smaller game. Maybe even jump to the mobile and tablet gaming.
Although Rabbids has become a symbol and a series in it's own right starting from 2006, it has gradually slowed down from a huge hype of fans to games for practically every console in sigh which not many people to buying them. Essentially it's almost been milked to death to death and it would make sense to release the game for mobile since like video game adaptations which were mostly developed a few months before the release of the game, they have reached a big low with practically no one buying them anymore. Those who did, I feel very sorry for them but it these have now become games for mobile where they continue to thrive. A nice home for Rabbids. Unless it's a complete reboot with nuclear weapons and bazookas of how these Bunnies have impacted Human history...
Assassin's Creed: Pirates and Liberation HD
It has been no surprise that we've got a whole wave of talk about future Assassin's Creed games. For what was once a series that seemed to head all over the history now has a bunch of sequels to a major character so we have to wait a few years until we get a completely new setting which isn't necessarily a bad thing... well if you like the characters of course. With talk of a new AC: Pirates, we were pretty much guaranteed yet another game in the Edward Kenway series although I think it potentially be a new character or a whole bunch of Assassins, Templars or even Bunnies. Why? Edward Kenway is part of the Kenway trilogy and it would make sense to open up the possibilities of many Pirate stories outside of this realm similar to the Mass Effect comics. I have a feeling this may also be a mobile, tablet or even a Vita game! Ubisoft wouldn't announce a new main AC game right now. Already having an annualized release is enough and it's been a while since we've had many handheld games. Aside from Liberation, they go far back as Altair's eras. A time when the handhelds ruled over the mobile gaming AKA The Good Times.
There is also the possibility it could be an MMO. It was thought of by Ubisoft sometime back and always remained to deliver some new potential if it was ever released. Not only would it be a new direction for the AC series but also for the whole company. They have never gone down this path before... I don't think and would work well as it would for many other series like Mass Effect to immerse players in more backround depth of their favourite video game universe and what better way than to explore with other players around all sorts of timelines.
About Liberation, it's very likely to be something for PS3 of course which actually surprises me. It will make a lot of money from fellow AC fans of course but Ubisoft already released their anthrology collection. If I was Ubisoft, I would have added it within a HD collection of AC4 and the latest other games in this Assassin's of the Caribbean era. This means that it could be just a digital game which will give my 74GB PS3 a headache especially after playing AC3 for a few dozen hours. It seems however that Aveline will be the star of many missions that come free with the PS3 and PS4 along with the stealthy blow darts. Most likely this is giving her a few extra stuff to redeem the negative views she got in Liberation or raising speculation of yet another standalone adventure or make her part of the story but where is Connor? Maybe it's possible he could be part of AC4 or the game could even be seen through the eyes of Connor looking back in the past. It would make sense. I mean, how else would he know that his grandfather in the AC3 DLC was related to Jack Sparrow?
Overall however, I really think the pirate era could have just become a new franchise. We have heard the reports that Ubisoft have been developing AC4 for 2 years now and I believe them on this since they were making a game set about a full naval game. Maybe this was gonna be a console, tablet or PC series but I think after Den Defence in ACR, they put it on hold and just made it appear as a new mode in AC3 which would explain why the developers were confused from the fans reactions.
The others...
The rest seem like an unknown once again. Aside from Watch_Dogs which we've known plenty about for over a year now but there is one that stands out for me and that is Endwar Online. I've been looking back lately at the game Endwar which I have all the way at the bottom of my PS3 pile being crushed like that of a Greek God or Goddess and some intriguing yet foreshadowing news about Ubisoft's plans for the future. It was on the lines of something like, they won't make a new game if it doesn't have potential to become a series, concluding that Watch_Dogs will continue for at least 10 years unless some Rabbids get in the way. You know how they're like with their bungee jump weapons and all. Even though Endwar was praised, strategy games don't really sell that well on PS3 just like horror games which is why it's a goldmine for fans off these genres so the idea of an Endwar surprised me hugely. I thought they had forgotten about it completely... but it sounds very much like an MMO. Something that would be sold for PC only which means I'll be unable to buy it. 
Well considering that my computer isn't really for gaming and that it would just vomit the mention of a word of a game, it's probably not the best idea. I'm sure many of you would agree. 
Now... the rest! Much of the writing I can't really see but I have a feeling the other one will be an MMO or free-to-play game or both the PC and Trials Frontier makes me think of a game based in a woodland, maybe a 2D game is on the way? As well as Poptropica sounds like one of those games I used to play on the PS1. Actually demos and I'll give you an example of what they were like. A character that can jump around in the non-stealthy fashion, fun environment with a funky flute tune but by the sound of the title, it sounds like something for a tropical paradise. These are just my predictions so it's only a question when I'll be told wrong. The Mighty Quest For Epic Loot sounds like a mouthful but once again sounds like something related near a JRPG like game and by the sound of it's name, there will be plundering of treasures and riches involved... which will be mighty epic!
EA!
So it looks like I've written a few couple of lines about Ubisoft. If you're beginning to get a little sleepy from reading this blog, the EA part will probably be like in the park for many of you so don't worry... but feel free to take a break.
So EA, a big company like Ubisoft but have suffered way too much criticism. I mean many companies have had their good and bad times but this giant really takes the cake... as in not literally. They have brought us games like FIFA and Battlefield which have been easy pickings to include a whole wildfire of DLCs. Yet way before online became a huge popularity, they were slightly more friendlier and in a way, cared more for it's consumer which seems like a story from mythology but it's true. I ask many people what they think of EA and they'll immediately say they're a horrible company who must be punished for their crimes! Well something along those lines and with the continued hate forming the award for worst company in the world in a row for 2 years running, it's possible that they could be the next runners up... but could this change?
Spliting away from the latest dire news of the being we call EA, it seems like this company is keen on making many more IPs to add more creativity and thus potential in what is a rising yet still uncertain video game industry. However at the moment, none of these new IPs have been announced. All we have is the news of 6 and 8 new franchises in the works. So lets analyse this sentence. Most likely it will be something for next gen or at least the current gen and next gen borderline of consoles which would make sense seeing as they're not interested in making games in markets where they would perhaps, not much make so much money. However what does this 6 and 8 mean. Shouldn't they say 6 or 8? Well I think that this 8 could mean reboots or at least redesigns of current series that already exist which include the Star Wars: Battlefront game and Mirror's Edge. Thus if you don't count these new games as new franchises, then stick with the fact that there are 6 games in development.
Although don't think that these games will hit stores so quickly. I think many could be announced around 2014 and then released in 2015 which would become a year for EA. Then again, they could go as far as 2017 and may just be in planning stages. However we have to wonder whether they could be referring to sub series like a series like the Old Republic or Bounty Hunter since Battlefront is certainly not the only thing that we'll hear from Star Wars and with the next movie's release in 2015, who could complain with a few more games too? It's also possible that they may look back and buy the rights for games such as 007 games which at the moment are in a time of hiatus but they were known for being great games by EA during a time when video game adaptations of films were awesome. In fact, they weren't even based on the movies. Just completely new adventures with unique futuristic weapons, gadgets and villains which is the top priority. Added to a multiplayer which would make a lot of sense to incorporate in the next gen with skis to power pants!
Like Ubisoft though, I have my doubts that they will continue for one off games like Warp and Fuse while despite being creative in some respects, I think the company may have forgotten about them, already and will just make something completely new since they weren't well known or just players refused to buy them like Fuse due to the transference which was originally Overstrike.
Overall
To me, Ubisoft and EA both present the future of what companies may or may not look like in the future. Lets see... they are both well known, have their select number of games and franchises and also the fact that they've annualized many of their games. In my personal opinion though, I think Ubisoft is more reliable. Sure, I have my issues at the fact that withe series like Assassin's Creed, they will not go with a few settings even though they could work and even though they are working in a franchise with limitless possibilities and it was a few years ago since I heard about people saying Ubisoft cared more than other developers but Ubisoft is made up of different companies around the world, all working on different projects and types like Ubisoft reflections focuses on delivering racing and driving games whereas Ubisoft Montpellier develops cartoonish games like Rayman and Beyond Good and Evil so they can still focus on their areas of expertise and creative ideas so i don't have much of an issue with games every year since I think that AC's story could have already of been written and they it's a combination of many Ubisoft teams working all on one game. It will be very similar to previous games in terms of movement but then again, no one criticizes Battlefield's engine. Anvil Next is still new and they've been adding a whole bunch of stuff that will make us forget whether it's similar to the previous games... hopefully. So in a way, they're trying to solve things with consumers and where they're going.
EA on the other hand, I don't think as much. You may find this as very bias but I have played many of EA's games in the previous gens and you can tell they were devoted to games even if they got an average score and would not hesitate in developing a sequel. Now with online as an advantage for many other companies, games they can get their hands on are ultimately doomed in some way. Many will deny it but I do think EA had an involvement in altering Insomniac Games' game Overstrike to Fuse even though they're just publishers. Overstrike had a feel like an Insomniac Game. Something many games don't have where it had cool unique weapon upgrades and humour throughout. Fuse is nothing like that and I know Insomniac wouldn't risk pushing away their customers and true fans so in a way, I think they're like anew victim of EA. Just take a look a Syndicate. It looked cool but they changed the genre completely to FPS. Yet another cursed franchise. I'm still going... what about Battlefield? We only really got any new modes in the DLC and likely we'll see the same thing for BF4 which is why I'm considering in buying COD: Ghosts. This is also down to many reasons but take away the Frostbite Michael Bay engine and you're not left with a big deal.
With COD, you won't get a whole new feel but at least new modes will make sense... then again, I will never pay for their DLC equivalent to a game I can buy from Amazon.
I'm not finished... since EA has been humiliated with the worst company of the year awards, it only makes sense to make them look good. Take for instance FIFA 14. They will make it the last game to sell the PS2 console to make a milestone in history when there's no one on the PS2! They could easily make it for the WIi U but they don't get care about EA. There is a thing called discrimination even in the market place and they'd make a lot more money with a Wii U multiplatform for many other games like Wii U. They didn't think it through that the Japanese are making their own last PS2 game too.
They made a donation towards AIDS research which isn't a bad thing but what it's easy to see that they're trying to make themselves look good and keep so much money is the fact that it's $18,000? From a big company, I was hoping more like $2,000,000 maybe. I won't talk about Mass Effect. We'll be hear all day...
So in the end, I won't be going on a shopping spree for many of these new IPs. I'll buy what I can of course but with EA, they've lost me on all their games. I have a feeling I'm making a bad choice but if I realize that the games were awesome after 10 years, then they'll be pretty cheap by then.
Companies are going to expand, use DLC, scam people or may even make a full game without DLC at all or at least with free DLC. Then again, they make more divisions in order to specialize in their skills of ideas for their own genres of games.
I was coming near to the end of this blog yesterday when all of a sudden, today, a whole bunch of Ubisoft information popped up just to let you know so this blog probably isn't up to date... but I'll post it anyway and you can listen to that EA rant.
So what do you think of these new IPs and companies so far?
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed. 