Faith is restored?

Nearly six years after Electronic Arts' parkour shooter graced home consoles, new evidence of a possible sequel to 2008's Mirror's Edge has surfaced.

Amazon Germany has listed Mirror's Edge 2 as available for pre-order on Thursday, sparking much speculation that an official announcement from EA is imminent.

The listing shows that the potential sequel will release on the Xbox 360, hinting at a possible exclusive with Microsoft. However, Mirror's Edge 2 could very well end up a next-gen title due since Microsoft is obviously shifting their focus to the Xbox One.

Mirror's Edge 2's Amazon listing corroborates last year's news of an ex-Electronic Arts employee confirming its development, along with the rampant speculation that EA and DICE were waiting to see what the community's demand looked like before investing in the sequel.

Check back with TheCoverSystem for any updates on this lead!

Gut instinct tells me not to ask such a bold question so soon. But, this is the same gut that got roundhouse kicked by Microsoft's pigheaded vision of next-gen gaming, so forgive it if it isn't thinking clearly. After all, we're all reeling from the same devastating blow Xbox One delivered.

Isn't there a hint of rationale to such a question, though? Is it entirely possible that Xbox One's controversial debut decided an outcome that typically takes years to determine? Like the cocky confidence of an ancient astronaut theorist on Ancient Aliens, yes... yes it is.

Cockiness, and the overabundance of it, has already dealt crippling blows to Nintendo and Microsoft. The cockiness of thinking past success gift-wraps future success. The cockiness of thinking communities will eat up anything that's thrown on their plates. The cockiness of thinking they can disfigure gaming to their liking without penalty.

Cockiness kills consoles.

Less than a year after it's launch, the Nintendo Wii U has already been dubbed the next Sega Dreamcast, as in another console whose lifespan is cut shockingly short. But, I disagree. I wouldn't dare disrespect the Sega Dreamcast by saying such things. That was a great console marred by the unprecedented popularity of the PlayStation. The Wii U is an unmitigated abomination. There's a difference.

Already, developers have begun pulling the plug on Wii U support after slumping multiplatform game sales, including -- and soon-to-be not limited to -- Electronic Arts. Rigid console design will do that.

And now, Microsoft's multimedia shenanigans has shifted the Xbox One from fierce competitor to farce. The core gamer has been shoved to the side to make room for TV integration, NFL partnerships, Kinect, SmartGlass and Skype. Somewhere underneath all the fluff of Xbox One's 'all in one' premise is key software -- you'll just have to wait for E3 2013 to get it.

But, don't get too excited about that. It'll be hard to look forward to Microsoft's lineup of games when you remember that you can't play used copies and have to log online once every 24 hours to validate that you are, in fact, playing your copy of the game.

And lets not forget Kinect, that super cool voice/gesture recognizing device that's not only a default part of the Xbox One, but channels its inner Person of Interest by eavesdropping on what you're saying and/or doing in the living room when the console is powered off. I like my video game consoles better when they're not trying to be head of household, thanks.

There's just one console manufacturer that doesn't sound like they're either on life support or hell bent to sell us on a shady pyramid scheme. Sony.

Despite the generally positive response, the PlayStation 4's debut this past February did have its fair share of critics -- calling Sony's efforts too simple or even too safe. On paper, that isn't too far off from the truth. Cloud gaming, video capturing, playing a game as you download it and upgraded visuals are all novel features, but nothing terribly earth-shattering.

However, the safe route has become Sony's biggest selling point. PlayStation 4's focus is on enhancing gaming, not changing it. It's about making core gaming simple, seamless and flat out better. Whether you're a diehard Nintendo loyalist or the Xbox 360 owner that can't imagine life without Halo, it's hard not to appreciate the affection Sony is paying our kind.

Sony exudes the right kind of cockiness -- the same 'we know this will work' attitude as their competition, this time with good reason. Sony knows how strong their first-party software is, how impressed third-party developers are with PS4's easy to use hardware and how tasteful their next-gen enhancements will be. They know all of that will work because it will work.

And I think the proof of that will be immediate.

2013 will only get worse for Nintendo over time, with two high-end consoles entering the market later this year and do more harm to their already laughable sales, causing even more studios to bail out of Wii U development.

Microsoft, on the other hand, will likely post respectable numbers when Xbox One launches, but it won't be long before the console that's supposed to liven up our living rooms builds brick walls around it. Once that becomes tangible to Xbox consumers, the subsequent backlash will be worse than what we're seeing now.

Sony is no saint either, but they'll continue to market the PS4 as core gaming heaven and promptly usher in the disgruntled gamers that need saving. In some ways, the PlayStation 4 will win the console race by default, but it's hard to argue that it wouldn't be earned to some extent. Sony's priorities are right where they ought to be; and as long as the PS4 has a strong first year which reflects that, they could be on the cusp of a unanimous victory.

Don't expect any concession speeches from Microsoft and Nintendo just yet, but expect the worst.

Written by: Marco Strzeszynski

Microsoft is on the precipice of a complete, unbridled disaster.

Millions of gamers tuned in to watch Microsoft's highly anticipated Xbox event that would unveil the Xbox One, a powerful new platform that harnesses cutting-edge functionality, technology and features that will take the medium down a bold new path.

Correction: I meant that the Xbox One is on a bold new path that will take the medium down.

I may have written that intentionally backwards for effect, but the effect wasn't for laughs. The effect was to symbolize how the entirety of Xbox One's reveal transpired -- a lopsided, ass-backwards affair that did everything but instill confidence in the Xbox community that Microsoft's priorities are in correct order, all while a crowd of paid applause-goons clapped it up for some good old fashioned artificial excitement.

The whole event played out like a sketchy late night infomercial on a 'do it all' product, but with better production. All it was missing was those black and white clips of a consumer wrestling with an outdated alternative product like it's the hardest thing ever.

Are your eyes fluttering in confusion about your television? Is your old DVR giving you a hard time? Is Fantasy Football becoming a chore? Well, we've got just the thing for you! Act now and we'll double the needless features!

But then, there's the fine print -- the type that cuts all 'too good to be true' products down to size, such as prohibiting second-hand gaming, requiring players play online once every 24 hours, throwing actual video game software on the backburner and not only making Kinect mandatory, but allowing it to listen in on your living room conversations when the console is off.

Golly, where do I sign up?!

Where's the silver lining in all of this? What's the one thing that can help gamers breathe a sigh of relief and say "well at least that is good." It's not Kinect. It's not Skype. It's not SmartGlass. It's not DVRs. It's not a Halo television series. It's not even the design of the console itself -- the lovechild of a VCR and Betamax player that it is. There's nothing... absolutely nothing. Okay, maybe the controller.

Every shrapnel of hostility pointed towards Microsoft right now is completely deserved. This isn't a legion of rabid fans crying because we didn't see enough games. This is a fanbase that fell victim to Microsoft's delusions of grandeur. Twitter tirades, Facebook rants and YouTube reactions might not count for much now, but it'll all add up when Xbox One launches later this year.

Written by: Marco Strzeszynski

It hasn't been all peaches and dandelions for EA Sports this generation. Other than the consistent quality of the FIFA series, the bulk of their sports franchises -- at one point or another -- have fallen grossly short of the mark. But, none of their failures have been quite as fraudulent as NBA Live/Elite.

To equate NBA Live to the actual sport, this isn't one of those teams that get swept in the playoffs and have a kid yell "good job, good effort" as they walk through the locker room tunnel. This is one of those teams a teams that shows up to training camp out of shape and have an embarrassing losing seasons thereafter. This is one of those teams that a guy like Stephen A. Smith goes ham about on ESPN First Take.

This is the Charlotte Bobcats of sports games. Ouch indeed.

Nobody really knows how EA Sports can truly turn the NBA Live series around except for EA Sports, and we're about to find out what they have planned soon.

After a cryptic tweet hit NBA Live's official Twitter account on Monday, Polygon has reported that NBA Live 14 will make its controversial comeback on next-gen consoles in late 2014, and that it could very well make its debut at Microsoft's Xbox Event.

With two straight cancellations and the meteoric rise of the NBA 2k series in mind, EA Sports has their work cut out for them when it comes to repairing the image of their troubled franchise, but perhaps a new console generation will give them the clean slate they're clamoring for. That's the hope, anyway.

Check back with TheCoverSystem for more news on NBA Live 14 is it arrives.

The days of fake teaser trailers and fan mock-up renders of the PS4 has come to an end.

In an act of pure competitive timing against Microsoft's Xbox Event on Tuesday, Sony whipped up a brand new teaser trailer of the PlayStation 4, teasing the final look of the console with super close-up cuts of air vents and blurred shots of the entire console.



From what we can gather, the PlayStation 4 appears to be a flat, box-shaped console that can stand vertically and horizontally. At the end of the teaser, a strange dark blue stripe pulsed horizontally, which could be a clue that Sony is bringing back the same color accent as the PlayStation 2.

Expect the final look of the PS4 to come into focus at Sony's E3 conference on June 10th. Until then, stay tuned to TheCoverSystem for more news on the next-gen console race!

Gamers aren't the only ones that have May 21, 2013 circled on their calendars -- just ask Microsoft's PR department. They've circled it so much that they probably burned through dozens of red Sharpies by now.

While it's hasn't been a complete PR nightmare, Microsoft has to be bursting at the seams to reveal the next Xbox just so they can stop having to play coy with their damage control after months of criticism about Xbox Infinity's 'always on,' anti-second hand gaming measures. Despite their change of heart on the matter, Microsoft still finds themselves on the wrong end of publicity, turning what was supposed to be a simple next-gen console reveal into a dire opportunity to win back the fans in which they've soured.

Needless to say, there's a lot riding on Microsoft's upcoming Xbox Event, so what should they do?

1. Keep Kinect-ivity Tasteful

Not everyone feels like flailing in front of a camera, and not everyone feels like telling their Xbox Infinity what to do. But, with reports claiming that Microsoft will fully integrate the Kinect 2.0 with their next home console, we might not have a choice... and neither will developers.

Perhaps choice is what kept the original Kinect from truly taking off with the Xbox 360. Despite its respectable sales, the fact that Kinect was an optional accessory steered many big name developers away from spending too much time designing functionality around it. It simply wasn't worth the manpower if it was a feature that only a small percentage of gamers would utilize. Now that Kinect will be an integral part of the Xbox Infinity, that will have to change.

The concern I have is that Microsoft is so fixated on making the Kinect a big deal that they'll make its use mandatory from key developers -- not only by strong-arming studios to make it a pivotal feature in their software, but forcing developers to alter the premise of their creative vision to cater to it. That's especially dangerous when you consider the rumored resurgence of third-party exclusives. Spook enough developers into making Kinect functionality a must-have and they might take their talents elsewhere.

That being said, it's imperative that Kinect 2.0's influence be meaningful, yet tasteful. Microsoft can't get too carried away with it, because the more they try to shove it down our throats, the more likely we are to throw it up. Gross.

2. Keep the Core at Their Core

Never bite the hand that feeds you. Core gamers are the lifeblood of video games -- sticking around through thick and thin, never wavering on loyalty and support, unlike mainstream gamers that pick and choose when to jump in and when to get the hell out.

If Nintendo's recent struggles are indicative of anything, it's that video game fads are more like flashes in the pan than lightning in a bottle. So, it's better to design a console that doesn't target that audience than to do it and get burned later. Core gamers are the safer bet, and hopefully Microsoft has designed the Xbox Infinity with that in mind.

If they managed to keep their priorities in check, Xbox Infinity's debut should be very game-eccentric, with lots of stage demonstrations, exclusivity announcements and a comfortably core hardware design. The less we hear about social networking, Netflix and connectivity, the more time Microsoft will have to indulge their biggest supporters.

3. Shut Down the 'Always On' Concerns Once and For All

Oh, hey! There's an elephant in the room. It's called 'always on,' and it's bulldozing through every one of Microsoft's pretty little office cubicles with reckless abandonment. It might be a good idea to stop ignoring it.

Microsoft has had some trouble prying this thorn out of their side as of late, despite confirming that consumers can, in fact, play their games offline. But even with their apparent backpedaling on the matter, we still don't have a full explanation of how second-hand games will be affected. Will Xbox Infinity titles be tethered to our Xbox Live accounts, or will things stay the same as they've always been? A lot of consumer purchases depend on that answer.

No matter how good the exclusives are, no matter how great everything else about the Xbox Infinity sounds, Microsoft will put their success in jeopardy if even the slightest trace of their 'always on' premise rears its head. So, the hope is that Microsoft will put that concept to rest -- at least until they can come up with a less player punishing solution.

Chances are, if there's a device that can run video games, EA will develop for it... just as long as the name of the console isn't Wii U.

After yanking multiplatform titles like Madden, FIFA and Battlefield from this year's Wii U lineup, Electronic Arts finally confirmed to various sources -- including Joystiq -- that they have no plans for any upcoming Wii U software at this time.

It's no secret that Nintendo is having a turbulent run with the Wii U thus far, and it's only gotten worse in recent months. Michael Pachter of Wedbush reported that the Wii U sold a disappointing 55,000 units in the month of April, making it all the more challenging for third-party developers and publishers to turn a profit on their software.

Despite EA's spotty reputation, losing their support is a major blow to Nintendo and quite possibly a kiss of death for their struggling home console. Other big name developers could be influenced by EA's exit and follow suit, leaving Nintendo on their own to fuel the Wii U with meaningful software.

Should that worst case scenario become reality, it's entirely possible that Nintendo will have to make a difficult decision on the future of their console. Nintendo could sit the rest of this console generation out and focus exclusively on the wildly successful 3DS, but the financial losses they'll face from Wii U's failure may be too much to recover from.

Calling the Wii U the next Sega Dreamcast isn't as hyperbolic as one would think. This might be the beginning of the end.