E3 Rumors: The Big Three Have Things Up Their Sleeves

Here we go again, the proverbial rumor mill is a turning, as we're about a month away from this year's E3. Tons of talk are around the industry's big hitters; Sony, Microsoft, & Nintendo. Let's throw out some tidbits that we know of presently.

First up, SONY will be revealing their iteration of their PS4 platform, a PS4.5 or PS4K* ,*as unofficially coined by Kyle Bosman of The Final Bosman of Gametrailers fame, This PS4.5 will boast a beefier inside to tackle 4K gaming and most likely accompany their Playstation VR, launching in the fall.

Secondly, as in any arms race, the competition will also compete so MICROSOFT has also been rumored to be revealing a more powerful Xbox One. Rumors are swirling if this new iteration to the Xbox platform will also help with introducing people to Augmented Reality games with the Hololens.

Lastly, but not at all least, NINTENDO is working on their own newest iteration of console codenamed the NX. Nintendo's NX is said to be on pair with current Xbox One and PS4 specs. This will be Nintendo's answer for their Wii U mishap. Will the NX have some gimmick just like the WIi U did, and the Wii before that?

My impressions, while yes I and everyone else will be waiting anxiously for Nintendo's newest console to play the breath taking Legend of Zelda title that's in the development, - although it has been revealed that there will be a Wii U version as well - more importantly the introduction of a new console this early in on their respective console generations makes Sony and Microsoft will be breaching new territory. I personally loved PC gaming but I hated the constant upgrading and keeping-up-with-the-Joneses to play the latest titles at the settings that I wanted. With the newest systems that will allow newer gamers to experience the best gaming possible, up to that point anyways, I really hope it doesn't send tidal waves throughout the industry. Will there be many other gamers left out due to their current hardware? If anything, this year's E3 is the big highlight of what's going on, what's going to happen and what everyone is going to be complaining about in a few months. lol

Holiday Gaming Releases Are Upon Us!

Tomorrow marks November 10th, the day three different franchises are released simultaneously. Crazed fans can expect to finally get their hands on Fallout 4, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void - among who knows what other entertainment options for the masses. Yes yes, we're finally there, it's the holiday gaming season.

While gamers have to wait all year long for this time, it's finally upon us. Aside from some stellar releases this year; Rare Replay, Halo 5: Guardians, The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain, Bloodborne, Batman: Arkham Knight, Forza Motorsport 6 & Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, the cream of the crop, so to say, is within grasp. Here are a few titles that'll be taking up your precious leisure time in the coming months as they're looking to be stellar additions to their already esteemed franchises.

• Fallout 4 Release: Nov 10th Set in an open world post-apocalyptic infamous "wasteland" setting and littered with mutated enemies, vast loot and staring a dynamic story, did I mention it's an Open-World Role-Playing Game, from the creators of other amazing open world games Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Bethesda Studios. RPG gamers have been waiting for the sequel to the critically acclaimed Fallout 3 ever since 2008 - the year that Fallout 3 was released. Here's to hoping productivity globally doesn't diminish due to this game's release. The game's targeting V.A.T.S. is back but this time you can select enemies on the fly without the stutter stop clumsiness of the previous iteration. Also making a reappearing appearance is the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. perks system but this time the level cap has been axed. Want a beefy action guy that's reminiscent of Arnold - Get to the Choppa! -, you got it. What about a stealthy ninja who takes out enemies simultaneously in the dark like a trained assassin, check. Your imagination is the limit with this one. Fallout 4 is a multi-platform game with exclusive features for the Xbox One like Backwards Compatible Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 mods - a first for the console version.

• Rise of the Tomb Raider Release: Nov 10th Continuing the success of the formula Crystal Dynamics retooled into the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot, Rise of the Tomb Raider continues to give gamers the high fantasy of being stuck in tombs and climbing icy frozen cliffs a few hundred feet off the ground while unraveling a thralling story with explosive combat and platforming. Promising the same fan favorite gameplay along with new locations and story, it seems like Crystal Dynamics finally knows where the franchise is headed. This action-adventure game is sure to give thrills, chills and vistas but more importantly we finally get a glimpse of the physiological effects Lara Croft endures with the madness she undertakes. Rise of the Tomb Raider is a timed Holiday Xbox exclusive with it going multi-platform in the near future.

• Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void Release: Nov 10th To cap off such an epic story that Blizzard Entertainment has crafted with Starcraft II is a high note. Legacy of the Void tells the continuing story focusing on the Protoss race, their homeworld, lore, buildings and iconic characters we know and love from the Starcraft II storyline. Of course the infamous mutliplayer will also get infused with these enhancements and even if you don't have the stand-alone expansion you'll be able to experience the enhancements as Blizzard is allowing any version of Starcraft able to experience the new features of Legacy. Expect to see some brilliant tacticians in the coming months. Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed they're working on episodic content for the game, in the form of Nova Covert Ops, and assures fans that more of what they want is on the way. Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void is a PC exclusive and finishes the story set up in Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty - which focused on the Terran forces and story - and continues the story from Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm - which focused on the Zerg forces and story.

Whichever title you decide on, yeah it's a good time to be a gamer, game on!