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All Points Bulletin (PC)
• Publisher: Realtime Worlds
• Developer: Realtime Worlds
• Release Date: June 29, 2010
• Screenshots
• Trailer
• What We Saw:
APB is a free-to-play MMO, where you play as either an Enforcer or a Criminal. The whole game is PvP, as you run (or drive) around town killing the opposing faction while completing certain missions that pop up on your screen. You could always ignore these missions and just kill other players but then you won’t make as much money. There’s a ranking system that’s based on your threat level, which is in turn determined by your kill-death ratio, mission success, and character level.
During the first 20 minutes of the meeting, I ran around as a female Enforcer wearing a pink jacket and tutu, carrying an automatic rifle. I was teamed up with a few other journalists in the meeting room, as we fought against some other journalists who played as Criminals. You can own vehicles in APB, or commandeer one (jack it if you’re a Criminal) if needs be. While driving, I accidentally ran over some pedestrians but unfortunately they did not go splat on the pavement; instead they bounced off my hood ragdoll-style. I was then taken to a different part of the room where I spent the next 15 minutes checking out the extremely robust customization editors. There are four elements you can customize in the game: your character, vehicles, wardrobe, and decals (which you can apply to your vehicles, clothing, or on yourself as tattoos).
• What We Think:
  Toni: Overall, APB looked like a decent game. It’s essentially a cross between the Grand Theft Auto and Battlefield series, in that it’s a third-person multiplayer shooter but in an urban scenario. But at the same time I can’t help but think that the developers spent way too much time in beefing up their customization features. It’s great that you can slap a custom-made tattoo on your toon’s chest and racing stripes on your muscle car, but once you’re in the game, who really notices such details when you’re busy killing other people?

Arcadia: Gothic 4 (360/PS3/PC )
• Publisher: Dreamcatcher
• Developer: Spellbound Entertainment
• Release Date: Q3 2010
• Trailer
• What We Saw:
I was shown a guided demo where a mad king first fought some skeletons in his mind and then a dude with a bow and arrow ran around killing deer and collecting mushrooms. Unfortunately there were some issues with the game so it didn't leave a lot of time for the demo. The game is the first console outing for the series and takes place ten years after the last game which conveniently removes the need to strip the main characters powers away from him at the beginning. The game looks like a fairly typical 3rd person RPG with melee combat, ranged combat and spellcasting. I heard about the game's spellcasting which combines a basic spell, say a fireball when the controller button is pressed or a different, more powerful version of the spell, say a wall of fire, if you charge up the spell before casting.
• What We Think:
  Brandon: For a game that's coming out this fall, there were a good deal of bugs and the game itself did not look very appealing. The frame rate was very inconsistent and the outdoor environments look rough. Still though, fall is a long way off, so there's plenty of times to get things running smoothly. Unfortunately I wasn't able to see the spellcasting, which sounded like the most interesting part of the game. The melee and ranged combat as well as the quest system looked like everything you've already seen in games such as Oblivion, only in 3rd person. This is the fourth outing of the series, so clearly someone likes these games, I'm just not sure you can count me as one of them.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (360; PS3)
• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
• Release Date: November 16, 2010
• Trailer
• What We Saw:
We started with a Borgia assault on Ezio's villa. In pursuit of the Golden Apple of McGuffin, Borgia sends an army against the assassin. Ezio took a wild ride on a wild horse through the streets of town, showing off Ubi's new attention to different types of horseplay. We were told that combat on horseback will focus on the humans with less need to keep Old Grey Mare under control. The highlight of the opening scene was the new combat system, more focused on aggression and taking control of a situation instead of staying on the defensive and waiting for an opening. Once Ezio's villa fell (no big spoiler there) we were fast forwarded to Rome four years later, where a single hand gesture is enough for Ezio to call the Brotherhood to his aid. A whistle, a wrist flex, and death falls from the sky. Single guards, four guards, a small army...Ezio can get help with any of them from his army of fellow assassins. The 15 hour single player campaign deals with assembling and empowering this brotherhood against the Borgia menace. The multiplayer campaign is Templar focused. And yes, there are crossbows.
• What We Think:
  Troy: Awesome. I mean, it looks amazing and has cannons and crossbows and a cult dedicated to following you into the jaws of death to dispatch your enemies. Almost as good as punching the pope himself.
  Danielle: Brotherhood is looking hot, if the demo is to be believed. The new brotherhood-related attacks were very impressive – I saw Ezio call for a reign of arrows to take care of a bunch of guards, and later, after dispatching a priest (hence summoning a huge group of enemy soldiers), he brought in a full team of fighters to help him sort the riffraff. It almost reminded me of a medieval take on force powers – they’re fun, badass ways to get rid of the pesky lackeys and overtake more powerful enemies. Ubisoft Montreal will obviously have to get the balance right so that your brotherhood attacks won’t leave you unchallenged, but I’m not too worried at this point.