The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced the return of E3 to its previous June timeframe, being held from June 2nd to June 4th at the Los Angeles Convention Centre.

The event will see a new format, which includes a greatly expanded number of invitations to members of the games industry as it welcomes “all qualified computer and video game industry audiences, including international and U.S.-based media, analysts, retailers, developers and business partners to preview the latest in interactive entertainment and technology.” The show will not be open to the public, however, as previous reports may have indicated.

Other changes include ‘increased booth sizes, increased qualified audiences, and an intensified focus on reinforcing the high-octane growth, innovation, and captivating entertainment that are driving the computer and video game industry.’ CEO of the ESA, Michael D. Gallagher commented:

“Video games are the fastest growing and most compelling sector of the entertainment industry. And, this upgraded event will reflect the growth, innovation and excitement of our industry. The breadth, scope and quality of the changes made to the show will make E3 the must-attend event of the year.”

Post continues, click to read more…

The Game Critics have announced the winners of their ‘Best of E3’ awards. The Game Critics comprise people from print and online media outlets. Every year, these people are called upon to vote for their best of show, at any given event around the world, to bestow awards upon the games they think should get little ‘Best of’ stickers on their boxes when they’re finally released.

Highlights include Fallout 3 taking ‘Best of Show,’ LittleBigPlanet taking ‘Best Console Game’ and Mirror’s Edge being awarded the ‘Best Original Game.’ The full list follows below:

Post continues, click to read more…

The Game Critics Awards have announced their ‘Best of E3’ finalists.

The Game Critics comprise “an independent group of journalists from 36 leading North American media outlets that cover the videogame industry.” That group goes around handing out awards for video games based either on fully released code or based on hands-on preview code available at trade shows, such as E3.

The nominees for ‘Best of Show’ this year include Fallout 3, Gears of War 2, LittleBigPlanet, Mirror’s Edge and Spore (again). The full list is on The Game Critics website. The winners will be announced August 5th.

Source: www.gamecriticsawards.com

Despite several top industry figures (and a lot of journalists) revealing their displeasure for E3 this year, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is still soldiering on, planning next year’s E3 Media and Business Summit.

An ESA representative said, “As we do every year, we’re beginning the process of surveying exhibitors and attendees to determine potential changes to the Summit. Once this is completed and shared with the ESA’s Board of Directors, we will make an announcement about the specifics of the 2009 E3 Media & Business Summit.”

While this isn’t really that surprising, it does go against the informal bets being made by the enthusiast press, declaring 2008 to be the last E3 ever. It all depends on those exhibitor and attendee surveys, then.

Nintendo has faced a barrage of negative publicity following its media briefing at E3 last week. Many self-proclaimed hardcore gamers were expecting a new game to be revealed but instead were presented with games they either knew about or dubbed “casual” games.

Nintendo has since been working hard to win back the support of its fans. In a recent interview with Forbes, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata commented “If there is any perception that Nintendo is ignoring the core gamers, it’s a misunderstanding and we really want to get rid of that misunderstanding by any means.”

Iwata continued “We are sorry about [the E3] media briefings, specifically for those who were expecting to see Nintendo show something about ‘Super Mario’ or ‘Legend of Zelda.’ However, the fact of the matter is the so-called ‘big titles’ need a long, long development period. …We really didn’t think this year’s E3 media briefing was the time to do so.”

Post continues, click to read more…

During E3 Bungie were to release information on their next game, now confirmed to be an entry into the Halo universe. Microsoft, however, decided to keep that game under wraps for the time being as they already had quite enough to show at their E3 press conference, including the news that Final Fantasy XIII is also coming to Xbox 360.

Rather, they had an “embarrassment of riches” situation, having so much quality information to dish out, they wouldn’t have been able to dedicate enough time to the Bungie/new Halo game reveal. They will instead focus on this upcoming game at a ‘dedicated event,’ to better announce the game and be able go into detail, rather than skipping over it during a big, diluted press conference.

Bungie team members are said to ‘share the disappointment’ of their fans that their reveal plans were cancelled, but, says Bungie president, Harold Ryan, “When the right time comes, we look forward to sharing this exciting announcement with you. Until then, we appreciate your continued support and patience.”

More developers and industry analysts have spoken out against the current state of E3, some saying the event has hit new lows this year.

Not least of the nay-sayers is Dave Perry, founder of Shiny and creator of Earthworm Jim, amongst others. Perry thinks E3 is “expensive, stupid and not real” and went on to say, “I’ve got to agree with the comment by John [Riccitiello] about E3… if there aren’t dramatic changes to the format and staff, I’m never going again.”

Game industry analyst, Michael Pachter, has also aired his views, saying, “In our view, E3 is headed for extinction, unless the publishers and console manufacturers wake up to the fact that nobody cares about the show anymore… We believe that show is ill-timed, coming after most major holiday announcements are out, and landing during ‘quiet period’ for most of the companies (making meetings with investors near-impossible).”

It seems the Entertainment Software Association and president Mike Gallagher have some work to do.

As the dust settles on another week of E3, some people aren’t too impressed with its new format.

John Riccitiello, EA CEO, said “I hate E3 like this… Either we need to go back to the old E3, or we’ll have to have our own private events.” Ubisoft’s North American president, Laurent Detoc, didn’t have any kinder words, saying “E3 this year is terrible…The world used to come to E3. Now it’s like a pipe-fitters show in the basement.”

Sega of America president Simon Jeffrey agreed with the sentiment that “more flash” is needed, but he does not want to return to spending $5 million on a once-off event every year.

While E3 of the past brought in over 60 000 attendees, publishers began to complain about the cost involved each year for a very little perceivable return, resulting in a downsizing of the event and an estimated 5000 attendees this year. Entertainment Software Association (ESA) president, Mike Gallagher, is open to another change in scale saying, “We just need to decide where the dial needs to go.”

Source: Gamasutra

In an interview with EA head-honcho (CEO) John Riccitiello, it was confirmed that a Massively Multiplayer Online Game based on Bioware/Lucas’s Knights of the Old Republic, is in development.

Riccitiello commented “We’ve got two of the most compelling MMOs in the industry in development. The first title, based on the Warhammer property, will launch soon.”

“And the one that people are dying for us to talk to them about—in partnership with Lucas, coming out of BioWare, which is, I think, quite possibly the most anticipated game, full stop, for the industry at the point when we get closer to telling you about it.”

When pressed with whether or not it was KOTOR online, Riccitiello replied “Yes.”

Only a strong rumour up until now, fans of the series will be getting a ‘proper’ MMOG to play out their Star Wars fantasies. That’s probably not a good thing…

Source: www.portfolio.com

If you didn’t like the original LocoRoco on PSP, you just don’t have a heart. LocoRoco 2 continues in the fine level-tilting tradition of its predecessor, while introducing a new story.

The Moja Troop, the ‘enemies’ in the first game, are now able to sing and are sucking the energy out of everyone. It’s up to the LocoRoco (i.e. you) to travel the world and try to perk everybody back up again. The LocoRoco can swim underwater this time and are also able to manipulate more objects around them than before.

LocoRoco 2 is coming to PSP later this year.

Post continues, click to read more…

Billed as a ‘survival-adventure’ game, I am Alive is looking interesting, if only for the fact that it’s been attached to Assassin’s Creed producer, Jade Raymond.

The trailer shows just how desperate the citizens of a devastated Chicago have become. Players will need to react to this post-earthquake environment and take risks that affect not only you, but the surviving citizens as well.

I am Alive is expected on Xbox 360 and PS3 next year.

Dead Space, a sci-fi survival horror game from EA, is pretty creepy.

With no HUD (stats are shown on the character model), players can expect to be immersed just that little bit more, having to shoot enemies that are able to attack even without limbs or a head. Each monster becomes a puzzle as you’ll need to discover how to destroy each one without allowing it to continue.

Dead Space is coming to PS3 and Xbox 360 October/November this year. The trailer is not for the faint-hearted…

The sequel to the original rhythm-based strategy game on the PSP, Patapon 2 looks like it’s going to dial everything up.

With 4 player ad-hoc co-operative multiplay and ‘Hero Patapon’ - stronger, customisable Patapon that perform special functions - you’re in for a treat if you enjoyed the original. Patapon 2 is expected this year on PSP.

Post continues, click to read more…

The Destroy All Humans franchise has seen ups and downs, so hopefully Destroy All Humans: Path of the Furon will be a return to form for the series.

The ‘humour’ seems to remain, with some great voice acting…at least from what can be gathered in the trailer. Crypto, series protagonist, is trying to live the high-life when some unexpected visitors come to town, resulting in the requisite death and destruction of his enemies, including the titular ‘Humans.’

Destroy All Humans releases on PS3 and Xbox 360 this year.

Namco Bandai Games has announced a new arcade compilation pack for Xbox 360, containing a host of classic Namco arcade games.

Namco Museum: Virtual Arcade includes Pac-Man: Championship Edition, Mr. Driller Online, the original Pac-Man, Galaga, Galaxian, Dig Dug, Xevious, Pole Position and New Rally-X, amongst others, some of which are Xbox Live enabled for on-line leaderboards.

If it’s at a bargain price, this will be a bargain.