E3 2008

[Kalyx triaD]

The biggest event in the gaming industry gets busy July 14th (to 17th). This is one of the few occasions I look forward to each year (with the Fall videogame season). Hope we get some cool surprises and announcements.

Can't wait to see:

Resident Evil 5
Street Fighter IV
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Fable 2
Soulcalibur IV
Resistance 2
Nintendo's press conference

Watching with mild interest:

Naruto: Clash of The Ninja Revolution 2
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility
Left 4 Dead
Sony's press conference

[LoDownM]

More NHL 2009 info.
Even tho I don't play WoW anymore. Wrath of the Lich King info

All i'm really looking foward too.

[LoDownM]

Oh yeah, and more Far Cry 2 stuff.

[Blitz]

Info on Call of Duty 5 and a new Suikoden is needed.

[LoDownM]

A next-gen Suikoden would be sweet, but lately my attention span on games has been short. Can't even play Suikoden 2 for 15 minutes before I feel like doing something else

[Crazy Nick]

I would like to know more info about how Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe is going to end up like.

[MCEazy]

I'm hopin to see some more footage of RE5 and maybe a new Zelda (if we're lucky)

[Mr Regal]

I wanna see more on Fable2, it will complete me.

[RoXer]

LEFT 4 DEAD

[PapaGeorgio]

The Big E3 List 2008
Confirmed games from the biggest US game show of the year.
by IGN Editorial Staff

June 11, 2008 - The always-popular Electronic Entertainment Expo has returned to its roots this year, with the annual game show moving back to the Los Angeles Convention Center after a solo season on the sunny beaches of Santa Monica. Kicking off on July 14 and running through July 17, E3 2008 showcases several of the year's biggest software titles from the industry's biggest publishers. In addition, special tie-in events like Gamecock's BE-3 Initiative and Activision's offsite press conference will spotlight new software as well.

To help celebrate the festivities, we're starting our E3 coverage right here and now. Listed below is every videogame that has been "officially confirmed" to appear at the show and concurrent events happening at the same. Just remember not to go crazy if your most anticipated title isn't on the list -- after all, E3 is known for its surprises and secrets, not every company is going to let us know everything ahead of time. That means that our list will by no means be complete until the show starts. Regardless, this page will continue to be updated immediately whenever we can confirm additional titles.

For your easy navigation, we've provided links to every game listed should you want to use our watch-list system to keep and eye on your favorite titles, and we've even included a handy countdown clock so you know exactly how much time is left before the show happens. Titles added in the last 48 hours are marked with a handy-dandy "New" icon as well.

Oh, and before we forget. If you're a publisher and want us to add games to your list, send us a complete description to this email address and we'll take care of the rest.

LAST UPDATE: June 18, 2008 06:03 PDT

Akella
Postal III (PC, X360) NEW

Bethesda Softworks
Fallout 3 (PC, PS3, X360)

Capcom
Bionic Commando (PC, PS3, X360)
Bionic Commando Rearmed (PC, PS3, X360)
Capcom Project #1 [untitled] (other)
Capcom Project #2 [untitled] (other)
Dark Void (PC, PS3, X360)
MotoGP 08 (other)
Neopets Puzzle Adventure (PC, Wii)
Plunder (PC, PS3, X360)
Resident Evil 5 (PS3, X360)
Spyborgs (Wii)
Street Fighter IV (PC, PS3, X360)
Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (PS3, X360)

Codemasters
Damnation (PC, PS3, X360)
Dragonology (DS, Wii)
Jumpgate Evolution (PC)
Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising (PC, PS3, X360)
Rise of the Argonauts (PC, PS3, X360)
Wizardology (DS, Wii)

Crave Entertainment
Defendin' de Penguin (DS, Wii) NEW
Ford Racing Off Road (PS2, PSP, Wii) NEW
King of Clubs (Wii) NEW
PBR: Out of the Chute (PS2, Wii) NEW
Purr Pals (Wii) NEW
Solitaire & Mahjong (Wii) NEW

D3 Publisher
Bangai-O Spirits (DS)
Ben 10: Alien Force -- The Game (DS, PS2, PSP, Wii)
Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 (Wii)
Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2 (DS)
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (DS, PC, X360)

Deep Silver
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky (PC)

Disney Interactive Studios
Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell (DS) NEW
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (DS) NEW
High School Musical 3: Senior Year Dance (PC, PS2, Wii, X360) NEW
Pure (PC, PS3, X360)
Spectrobes: Beyond The Portals (DS)
Ultimate Band (DS, Wii) NEW

Electronic Arts
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (PC, X360)
Crysis Warhead (PC)
Dead Space (PC, PS3, X360)
FaceBreaker (PS3, X360) NEW
FaceBreaker K.O. Party (Wii) NEW
Madden NFL 09 (PS3, X360) NEW
Madden NFL 09 All-Play (Wii) NEW
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames (PC, PS3, X360)
Mirror's Edge (PC, PS3, X360)
NBA Live 09 (PS3, X360) NEW
NCAA Football 09 (PS3, X360) NEW
Skate It (Wii)
Spore (PC)
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest (PC, PS3, X360)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 (PS3, PSP, X360) NEW
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 All-Play (Wii) NEW
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (PC)

Gamecock
Dungeon Hero (PC, X360) NEW
Legendary (PC, PS3, X360) NEW
Velvet Assassin (PC, X360) NEW

Microsoft
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (X360)
Fable 2 (X360)
Gears of War 2 (X360)
Halo Wars (X360)
Too Human (X360)
Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise (X360)

Midway Games
Blitz: The League II (PS3, X360)
Game Party 2 (Wii)
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (PS3, X360)
TNA iMPACT! (PS2, PS3, Wii, X360)
This is Vegas (PC, PS3, X360)
Touchmaster 2 (DS)
Unreal Tournament III (X360)
Wheelman (PC, PS3, X360)

Namco Bandai
Soulcalibur IV (PS3, X360)

Natsume
Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness (DS)
Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility (Wii)

Sony Computer Entertainment
Killzone 2 (PS3)
LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift (PS3)
PixelJunk Eden (PS3)
Resistance 2 (PS3)
SIREN: Blood Curse Episode #1 [PSN] (PS3)
SOCOM: Confrontation (PS3)

SouthPeak Interactive
B-Boy (PS2, PSP)
Big Bang Mini (DS)
Edge of Twilight (PC, PS3, X360)
Mister Slime (DS)
Monster Madness: Grave Danger (PS3)
Ninjatown (DS)
Two Worlds: The Temptation (PC, X360)

THQ
All-Star Cheer Squad (DS, Wii) NEW
Baja: Edge of Control (PS3, X360) NEW
Darksiders: Wrath of War (PS3, X360) NEW
Deadly Creatures (Wii) NEW
Red Faction: Guerrilla (PC, PS3, X360) NEW
Saints Row 2 (PC, PS3, X360) NEW
Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise (DS) NEW
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 (DS, PS3, Wii, X360) NEW
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II (PC) NEW
de Blob (Wii) NEW

Valve
Left 4 Dead (PC, X360)

Warner Bros. Interactive
LEGO Batman: The Videogame (DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, X360)
Project Origin (PC, PS3, X360)

XSEED Games
Little King's Story (Wii)
Valhalla Knights 2 (PSP)

[Kalyx triaD]

Nintendo is being rather silent about their reveals...

[PapaGeorgio]

Originally Posted by Kalyx triaD Nintendo is being rather silent about their reveals...

Nintendo to Unveil 'Core' Titles at E3
Traditional fan base to be honored with new games.
by Martin Robinson, IGN UK

UK, June 17, 2008 - Nintendo could be unveiling several games for the Wii that will appear to its core fan base at this year's E3, according to comments from a company spokesperson.

Marc Franklin, director of public relations at Nintendo, told GamePro "…we will be announcing several new titles that core gamers will be interested in around the time of E3."

Sure to whip the flames of internet speculation into a veritable inferno, there are no precise details on what the titles may be, though a return to a classic franchise could possibly take the shape of the much rumoured Kid Icarus retread or a truly bespoke new Zelda adventure for the Wii - but don't shoot us if it's neither.

Franklin alluded to the console's fan base, telling GamePro that "The clear majority of people waiting in line outside retailers on Sunday mornings to buy their Wii consoles are core gamers."

The recent release of Okami for the Wii, as well as the unveiling of the Frank Miller tinged Mad World from Sega and Platinum Games also suggest a shift in publisher's attitudes to the system, with Franklin noting that "They realize that Wii is the current platform of choice in this generation, and their bottom lines depend on appealing to the largest base."

[Kalyx triaD]

PR Loop Comments:
When the PR branch of a company issues an utterly non-point comment to the press that says absolutely nothing in regard to their company's agenda, though it often sounds as if they gave information. Carefully read, one could find that they actually said nothing at all.

EA and other 'annual developers' tend to do this alot. Nintendo not so much, but that's what I just read.

[PapaGeorgio]

Pretty much yeah, but was just giving you the info that is out there.

[Kalyx triaD]

I'm thinking a new Zelda for a 2010 release. TP was a GCN game ported over to Wii, a true Wii Zelda would own E3.

[ClockShot]

Nice find on that list, Papa.

Only things I have/had my eye and are looking forward to are:

Darksiders: Wrath of War
SOCOM: Confrontation
Nintendo to say Zelda is in the works.

Pity that some of the "big boys" in the gaming world have backed out this year.

[Kalyx triaD]

Released Schedule for Press Conferences:

Monday
10:30 a.m. Microsoft
12:30 p.m. Square Enix
3 p.m. Electronic Arts

Tuesday
9 a.m. Nintendo
11:30 a.m. Sony
2: 30 p.m. Ubisoft
4:30 p.m. Capcom
7 p.m. Activision (Not part of E3)

Wednesday
10:45 a.m. Take Two
1 p.m. Entertainment Software Association
2:30 p.m. Konami

I recommend G4 and (oddly enough) Gamepro.com if you wanna get as up to date as possible. Other than that most respectable net-mags will have your fix within hours of major anouncements. I will continue my coverage of all things geektacular as I do in other threads with a fair amount links, copy-pastes, and whathaveyou in this very thread.

[PapaGeorgio]

ign.com is airing some of the press conferences live I think.

[Kalyx triaD]

For insiders.

Damned if I gotta pay for news.

[PapaGeorgio]

hmm, my friend has an insiders account, may just borrow his. Otherwise they usually host the press conference after it is done. I enjoy watching Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony p.c.

[Kalyx triaD]

That's where the industry shaking news happen.

[PapaGeorgio]

Yeah, I imagine the others will be mad boring. GO REGGIE!

[PapaGeorgio]

They all usually have some rofl moments in them though, like not purposefully funny but they will do something so stupid it is funny. Like when they announced Halo 3 edition of the 360 last year I think and like people were going all crazy for it, all it was was a different skin. UGH

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Working during Nintendo's conference.

[Kalyx triaD]

Can't imagine what people expected.

The biggest news will come from Nintendo I think. They've been quiet...

I'd kill myself if they drop a Zelda MMO bomb, solving all of Nintendo's network issues in one attempt with a loved franchise to carry it through.

Then the world would end.

[PapaGeorgio]

Yeah, Nintendo usually has the better conference mainly because they are so secretive about everything they do. Rumors are Kid Icarus, new Zelda, New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Animal Crossing WII. All of which I am excited for, albeit different levels of excitement.

Hopefully they have some good news with like online shit, such as voice chat. Or maybe Virtual Boy 2.

Would be badass if Dreamcast 2 got announced.

[Dorkchop]

I wonder if Nintendo will announce a completely new franchise. I'm thinking they'll announce established franchises like Animal Crossing, Zelda, and even Pikmin. Doubtful, but I'd love for them to announce a solution for their lack of Wii memory.

[LoDownM]

Originally Posted by PapaGeorgio Would be badass if Dreamcast 2 got announced.

Not unless someone throws a shitton of money at Sega to do it.

[Kalyx triaD]

I think Sega's comfortable where they are.

[ClockShot]

Ah. Ubisoft is gonna show up. I wanna hear their state of the state address of Splinter Cell: Conviction.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Originally Posted by Dorkchop I wonder if Nintendo will announce a completely new franchise.

They announced two in 2006... One got cancelled, the other still hasn't materialised.

[Boomer]

I don't have much hope for these anymore. Diablo III basically tides me over for anything I'd really want in the future.

[Drakul]

Damn, I was in the middle of making an E3 2008 thread earlier but had to go out at the last minute. Thought "I'll do it again when I get back", Then Kalyx did it...you do that with a lot of the threads I plan to make in the VGForum. It's odd.

Anyway, a new Zelda has supposedly been in the works since TP was released so if it's being made, we'll see it this year. Since that Futuristic Zelda April Fools gag, everyone's been wanting a Zelda set in the future. I wouldn't like that at all. It would be like having Samus run around in a medieval suit of armour and equipped with a cross bow. A Zelda in any other setting than an old fasioned fantasy world is so unlikely that it's not worth hoping for in my opinion but Miyamoto has said that TP is the last Zelda of it's kind, whatever that means.
If it's a sequel to TP like a few people think it will be, it could finally explain the flood. Almost every Link has had two games
Loz + LoZ2:AoL
OoT + MM
WW + PH
So I can see it being another game set with TP Link. I hope that *TP spoilers warning still needed?*Midna returns though.

AC Wii is another thing that has apparantly been worked on since the Wii was launched so that could be another thing shown. I can't see them having more than one big announcement so if Zelda is there then I doubt we'll see Kid Icarus, Star Fox, Pikmin and the other games Nintendo fans are wetting themselves in hope for. I'm sure we'll get at least one Wii*verb* game though.

[MCEazy]

Originally Posted by Drakul but Miyamoto has said that TP is the last Zelda of it's kind, whatever that means.

I certainly hope it is, the series is in drastic need of an overhaul of sorts, at least when it comes to the console version. I've always loved the portable zelda's (especially LTTP and LA) and find no problem with them, but when it comes to the console zelda's, its become quite stale in some areas:

1. Same gameplay formula (exploring land, finding a dungeon, solving puzzles in that dungeon to obtain an item, using that item to solve more puzzles in the dungeon, and then using that item in a boss battle to defeat them. Earning some unique artifact of sorts for defeating the boss, and need to collect various numbers of those artifacts ranging from 3-8 in count in order to reach the next major segment of the game.

2. No voice acting of any kind (link doesn't have to speak but every other character should, Final Fantasy's been doing this for years so I don't see why Nintendo can't follow suit.)

3. Practically similar story storyline elements (A random boy chosen as a hero to save princess zelda/Tetra from ganondorf/*insert villian name here*, only real exceptions I can think off the top of my head to this are LA, OoA/OoS, MM and MC)

4. Underdeveloped supporting cast (aside from Lineback and Midna, there really hasn't been any new original characters or evolution for current character types ie. Gorons and zoras.

Only problem is you fix some or all of these issues and theres bound to have countless fanboys raving (just look at what happened w/ WW), not to mention Nintendo seems to be going on the "casual" side what with Phantom Hour Glass.

Now don't get me wrong, I love zelda and its been my favorite gaming series since I was little, but the series is in need of some changes in order to stay fresh.

[Drakul]

I'm all for evolution but no to voices. I don't want everyone having an American accent, it just wouldn't sound right plus there is the chance the actors will be terrible. If they did voices, I'm sure it would be a safe bet that everyone will have an American accent except Ganondorf who will have a deep booming English accent and possibley Zelda would have an English accent as well purely because she's a princess.

I think the major issue with items is most become useless outside the dungeon you found them in. Yeah there are one or two spots in Hyrule Feild or the next dungeon you'll use the item but other than that, items become pointless after defeating the boss of the dungeon you found them in.

I loved what they did with Midna, really got attached to her through the game (well, as attached as you can get to a character in a game) which is why I really hope she returns. If Midna is a no show then I hope the next "side kick" character is just as cool and gets the same development.

Random thought. Kalyx said a Zelda MMO would be good. What if they did the MMO but you create a character and can't play as Link and you try and save the day. This could explain why the Hero never returned in the WW intro. That would mean you'd be playing a game that you would never win, though.

[MCEazy]

Originally Posted by Drakul I'm all for evolution but no to voices. I don't want everyone having an American accent, it just wouldn't sound right plus there is the chance the actors will be terrible. If they did voices, I'm sure it would be a safe bet that everyone will have an American accent except Ganondorf who will have a deep booming English accent and possibley Zelda would have an English accent as well purely because she's a princess. I think the major issue with items is most become useless outside the dungeon you found them in. Yeah there are one or two spots in Hyrule Feild or the next dungeon you'll use the item but other than that, items become pointless after defeating the boss of the dungeon you found them in. I loved what they did with Midna, really got attached to her through the game (well, as attached as you can get to a character in a game) which is why I really hope she returns. If Midna is a no show then I hope the next "side kick" character is just as cool and gets the same development. Random thought. Kalyx said a Zelda MMO would be good. What if they did the MMO but you create a character and can't play as Link and you try and save the day. This could explain why the Hero never returned in the WW intro. That would mean you'd be playing a game that you would never win, though.

Yeah it would get annoying if everyone had an american VA, but if they were english it would work (or an option to have jap voice w/ subtitles maybe).

If there was a zelda MMO, theres no way it should be connected to the overall timeline, its too confusing as is.

[Drakul]

That's why I wouldn't like voices. It'll be American or some upper class English accent. I think it's best left to the players imagination because I read the text with a Scottish accent because I see lots of Celtic inspiration while someone else might imagin another accent for another reason.

I guess an MMO would confuse things a bit but with no Link and no connection to the story, what would make it an LoZ MMO?

[Destor]

Gorons/Zora/the word "Hyrule."

[PapaGeorgio]

Originally Posted by Drakul AC Wii is another thing that has apparantly been worked on since the Wii was launched so that could be another thing shown. I can't see them having more than one big announcement so if Zelda is there then I doubt we'll see Kid Icarus, Star Fox, Pikmin and the other games Nintendo fans are wetting themselves in hope for. I'm sure we'll get at least one Wii*verb* game though.

I would expect 2-3 announced. Nintendo doesn't really have any big games planned for right now. I would expect Kid Icarus/Animal Crossing to come out around the Holiday season. If Zelda is announced, the game won't come out for a while, probably next years holiday season at the earliest. I could see Pikmin coming out next summer or so when they need something to hold people over. No idea on Star Fox though. And you also have the Wario Land game to fit in there somewhere.

Like I know the Wii is basically all Nintendo games, but for awhile like every month there was a new Nintendo game that came out and they all were pretty decent. It is amazing how quick they went through their normal games for a system in almost a year, year and a half we saw all the big ones (even if some were semi-ports) of Zelda, Mario, Mario Kart, Wario Warez, Metroid, etc.

[Drakul]

Well, there are still a few they have yet to use.

Star Fox, Pikmin, AC, F-Zero, Chibi-Robo, Doshin the Giant, Mario Tennis/Golf and maybe a new series or a reinvetion of an old series like Kid Icarus or Ice Climbers and even (rumoured) Duck Hunt 2 coming to WiiWare.
If they spread them out, it could last the Wiis life span