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Gamma World (360, PS3, PC)
• Publisher: Atari
• Developer: Bedlam
• Release Date: Q3 2011
• What We Saw:

A third person action/shooter with RPG elements set in an insane post-apocalyptic world, Gamma World is based off off the board game property of the same name. I was led through an early stage filled with pig-mutant tanks called porkers and rabbit mutant swat teams with guns, while my demo guy explained the RPG elements of the game – you get to select two mutant “types” as you go in, each carrying its own abilities. When you die, you’ll keep one of your mutant types, but the other will randomize, giving you different powers. For example, my demo had a half radiated (green-glowing) human who was half yeti – his arms and legs were giant and furry, and he had a mean melee attack.

• What We Think:
Danielle :

I really liked the humor and bizarre art direction – it’s a very anything-goes kind of place, and all of the character models are weirdo combinations of something. I also liked the fact that you’ll visit a character named Hugh Effed Up whenever you croak. However, good ideas don’t hold unless they’re supported by good gameplay, and the demo I saw just looked janky.

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (360, PS3, PC)
• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Developer: Ubisoft
• Release Date: 2012
• Trailer
• What We Saw:
E3 featured playable single-player, co-op, and competitive multiplayer level, as well as demonstrations of a feature called gunsmith, which is just a matter of piecing together various bits to customize your gun. This latest Ghost Recon includes the usual cutting edge military tech like fancy guns and advanced HUD displays. The new hotness is optical camouflage, a.k.a. cloaking, for Metal Gear Solid style stealth, made all the easier by the third-person perspective. A new interface for co-op play lets each player queue up a target so the team can easily take out four terrorists simultaneously. When all hell breaks lose during scripted sequences, the team bands together into a diamond formation that plays like a lightgun game. You just shoot the targets while the camera moves itself. Kinect support lets you dig into gunsmith and even test-fire your weapons without ever touching a controller.
• What We Think:
  Tom: The co-op level we tried has me worried that this is going to be more scripted action than sandbox combat, but at least it's back on the PC. The detailed weapon configuration sounds like a great idea, but in modern military combat, I can't imagine there's going to be much use for more than one or two specific gun configurations. I do like the cover system, which lets you relinquish movement to a few button presses. And the less said about the horrible Kinect support, the better.
  Brian: We began during the third mission, which makes it a little surprising that we picked up our controllers and breezed through straight through to the end. Perhaps we’re that good, or the AI is that bad or the game was set on easy. Who knows? I enjoyed the way in which some portions of the environment were open and provided ample opportunities for movement. In contrast, the rest of the environment was incredibly restricting, although numerous and useless dead ends gave the illusion of space, much like the way a mirror makes a room look bigger. I believe that Ghost Recon: Future Soldier will be enjoyable, but I’m not yet sensing that intangible spark that generates enthusiasm.

Go Vacation (Wii)
• Publisher: Namco Bandai
• Developer: Namco Bandai Games
• Release Date: Fall 2011
• Trailer
• What We Saw:
We were shown a handful of the game's 50 different activities as well as given some hands-on time in one of the game's racing activities. The game has a ton of different things to do, many of which are unlocked simply by taking the time to explore the game. Events are chosen in real time, rather than from a menu system, so if you're walking around and come across the kayaking activity, just grab your boat and you'll be kayaking. The game supports up to four players and has rewards for winning activities and finding special activities hidden throughout the game.
• What We Think:
  Brandon: I didn't play enough of the activities to get a feel for the ratio of quality to filler but it sounds like there's going to be a good variety of things to do as well as activities not found in other mini-game compilations. The focus on exploration is welcome, making the game a very chill affair where you can just wander around, finding stuff and picking things to do. I have no idea if you can use a more traditional way to pick activities should you find yourself nowhere near the thing you want to do, so hopefully the exploration won't backfire on them. Minigame compilations have been well represented on the Wii but it's still always good to see a game that the whole family can get into. Fans of Wii Sports Resort may want to keep their eye on this one.
  Jason: I believe they said this game came with something like 50 minigames? That’s a lot of games.I watched Brandon play and it looks like it would be fun for kids. Or at least people that act like kids.

Gotham City Imposters (360, PS3, PC)
• Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
• Developer: Monolith
• Release Date: 2012
• Trailer
• What We Saw:
This is not the story of Batman or the Joker. Gotham City Imposters is a multiplayer FPS centered around ordinary citizens who have been inspired and called to acts of villainy and do-goodery. Gotham City Imposters will supposedly allow players to completely customize costumes, weapons, and gadgets of their characters, although we did not experience these options. We played a four-on-four match in which one team collects and installs a battery in a device that limits the opposition to slapping while trying to remove the battery.
• What We Think:
  Brian: I was quickly struck by the level-design; an amusement park with numerous nooks and crannies, vertical pathways, and side-routes. Color me suitably impressed. I enjoyed myself, but I didn't see anything that hasn't been done dozens of times before. The success of Gotham City Imposters is going to hinge largely on the customization options that we have yet to see.