Scantily Clad Info Babes at E3!

Great! Now that I have your attention, what I really want talk about is my hopes, prayers, dreams, and desires for this year’s E3. There is so much more to look forward to and with the week that was, there is much (ie sekrit sauce) to be gleaned, oh and scantily clad info babes! Cannot forget those!

Point 1: E3 – 2k5

Do you remember E3, 2005? If not, lets take a short walk down memory lane. I remember there was supposed to be a video and all sorts of oozing sekrit sauce poured upon the masses by Brad and Sigil. The community was jacked, locked, loaded, and ready for launch. People trekked down to E3 from all over the country to look how far “alpha” had come along.

The video was cool. Silky Venom had a look at the races, however, the boys were in their tightie whities (ZOMG) because of a server issue. No biggie, though if you were like me, the goblins looked awesome in my humble opinion. And other than the video was shot with a hand held camera, I was happy. Granted, the video was supposed to be of a fight, it was still cool.

There were screenshots released and the calls of “Browngard” came up yet again. I am honestly sick and tired of the "too much brown" argument. The world is not totally brown. I have seen the world, and it is green and lush in many places. The water is frigging incredible, and the desert... this is not your standard North Ro and South Ro (Sorry, Oasis, you have been nurfed!)

Sigil decides what official screen shots are released. They (Sigil) decided that certain dungeons had the best screen shots available and that is where they came from. I was happy with what I saw.

Lets be honest: Last year’s E3, by almost all accounts, was a complete debacle. However, I do not blame Brad or Sigil. I blame us, the community, for demanding more than Sigil was really ready to deliver. Multiple times, Brad, Zach and company tried to mildly douse the inferno that was the official forums, not to mention other world famous MMO sites. Yet, the calls for “l33t” alpha information was like a Drum Head. We, the community, kept pressing forward and drowning out what Sigil was really trying to say.

Point 2: E3 – 2k6

I sense the same thing happening this year. Vanguard will be at three booths: Sony Online Entertainment, Microsoft, and Sigil. From this stand point, there will definitely be more opportunities to see the game, and that is a good thing.

Along with the three booths, there was an interesting deal Sigil cut with SOE and Microsoft and the publicity should be better. Not only because everyone and their brother knows SOE, but also Brad and Sigil have more creative control on how they want to bring Vanguard to the forefront of the MMO universe.

Does this mean more articles? Does this mean more videos and screen shots? Perhaps more interviews for affiliate sites? I don’t know. However, I do know that there was some kind of difference in direction between Microsoft and Sigil. I personally have nothing against Microsoft. I do believe Sigil knows how to promote an MMO a heck of a lot better than Microsoft.

It is understandable that there is a media blackout before E3. Hopefully this year, there is a solidified game plan on how SigilSOEMicrosoft will say, "Hey, look at us! Look at Vanguard!" The opportunity is there to really launch Vanguard if Sigil feels that they are ready for it. And if Sigil says, “no, not yet,” expect fanbois to be jumping from bridges, mass hysteria, and...stuff.

All this being said, let's see if Sigil thinks they are ready to launch Vanguard. Personally, I think with the move from Microsoft to SOE, Sigil is saying, “Hey, we need more time.” More time to make sure everything is the way the designers of the game want the game to play. More time for that word that Brad reiterated over and over in his office: optimization. I want Sigil to take as much time as they need to get this right. I don’t want another StarWars: Galaxies, thanks.

Instead of having any preconceived notions about this year’s E3, lets take a wait and see approach.

Point 3: Scantily Clad Info Babes

Heh, did you think a military man would forget the babes? Unfortunately, for all the men out there, the babes had to be tamed down this year or face a 5000 dollar fine. The real question is why? Well, I will tell you why!

It seems as though last year’s E3 was not a “family friendly” environment and there were more bras, boobs, and butts than there were video games. This is E3, a video game convention, not Little Darlings in Vegas, k? Does little Johnny really need to look at a scantily clad info babe while checking out Super Mario Kart 17?

Personally, I have no problem have women hawking the latest and greatest anything, however, there has to be some line on how it is done and where it is done. Of course the argument is made that this is for the media and professionals and not for kids. Wrong! Anyone with the will and the financial firepower can get into E3. Kids get into E3 all the time, and don’t tell me they don’t. I watch CNN! This is a public event that is meant to expose the game, not the broad. While naked women can give exposure to the game, it really isn’t needed at an event like this.

Sidebar: How do you say Sigil?

Did you know that Sigil is actually pronounced “Si-jil?”

In closing, I am stoked for E3 – 2k6! I can only hope and pray the news will be better for Vanguard. I am a fan and I cannot wait to play.

One last quick hit, often, you will hear people who have personally interacted with Brad, Zack, and others at Sigil vehemently defend them while anonymous posters on said uber guild forums rip them to shreds. All I would ask is that you talk to people who have had the time to sit down and, no kidding, discuss the direction and status of the game.

It is always easier to be a doom and gloomer, a follower rather than a leader. Then again, sometimes there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

Until next time,

Melchizedek CEJ – FTW