e3-2008 posts

So Dead Space, the upcoming sci-fi themed survival horror game from Electronic Arts, is looking very much like an "M" rated game at this point. But apparently the trailer for the game that was shown at EA's E3 press conference earlier this month was too much for the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. As least that's the word from Ars Technica who states they received an email from EA after the conference stating that the "Lullaby" trailer is " . . banned here in the US (well not banned, but wasn't approved) by the ESRB because well, it's pretty gory."

And indeed it is very violent and bloody, but no more so than other Dead Space trailers in the past. However the ESRB decision hasn't stopped Gametrailers from posting up a link to the movie (with an age gate) so you can check out all the action for yourself after the jump. The game itself is due for release on the PC and other platforms on Oct. 21

Download the Dead Space "Lullaby" HD Trailer

id Software holds its annual QuakeCon event in Dallas next week, Sony Online holds its annual Fan Faire later in August in Las Vegas and in October Blizzard plans to hold its latest BlizzCon installment. But could yet another developer hold their own fan driven event? Maybe. Eurogamer reports that Frank O'Connor, the head of Halo development at Microsoft Games Studios, hints that a HaloCon could be possible as well.

While O'Connor stressed that no such planning for an event has taken place yet, he did say, "You can do a HaloCon. Nothing on [the scale of Comic Con], but you could bring a few hundred people just to see a Halo thing." While Halo is mostly known as an Xbox/Xbox 360 game franchise the first two games in the series were ported over to the PC.

We've posted up a lot of comments on E3 2008 over the past week from game industry executives and all of them seem to agree on one thing; the current small invite only format just doesn't work. So what can be done to return E3 to its former glory days? In his latest blog entry, EA Sports head Peter Moore says that Electronic Arts plans to get involved in any future E3 changes.

Calling E3 2008 "soulless and lacking an epicenter", Moore claims EA will be meeting soon with E3 organizers the Entertainment Software Association and that he hopes those meetings "will be substantive and be productive in finding the right path forward." Moore also wants to see gaming fans at future E3s, saying, "With the right planning, involving our biggest fans in E3 would bring back some of the raw passion the event has lost."

It's clear that there's no stopping Lara Croft. After making a successful comeback by in Tom Raider Legend and getting back to its roots in Tomb Raider Anniversary, the series continues to capitalize on its best features (and we're not just talking about the feminine ones) in Tomb Raider Underworld. We got first looks at Lara's latest subterranean adventure at this year's E3, filled with lost cities to explore, plenty of puzzles, and signature acrobatics.

Looking for an open world game that has as much flare and humor injected into it as possible? Welcome to Saint's Row. While Grand Theft Auto IV took the serious approach to the sandbox environment, Saint's Row 2 turns the insanity and craziness upside down. From elaborate insurance scams to a ridiculous array of weaponry, The Row is sure to be one crazy place to visit when it lands this October. Looking for more on THQ's latest sandbox adventure? Download the E3 2008 trailer that focuses on the customization within Saint's Row 2, today.

Download the Saint's Row 2 E3 2008 trailer now!

Spider-Man is generally a light-hearted hero. Always ready with a quip in the face of danger, he's known for his high-flying acrobatic antics. The newest footage from the E3 2008 floor, however, is decidedly dark and moody, with an atmosphere of dread and just a bit of squick. It's the latest trailer for Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, and it's got no action sequences, just a lot of darkness.

We've seen the revamped combat system, and it's gotten us pretty interested in this title -- more so, we dare to say, than this piece, intriguing as it is. Who's behind this web infestation? Are those symbiotes running around? What's happened to the city? All these questions and more, in the HD version of the trailer, available now on Big Download.

Download the Spider-Man: Web of Shadows E3 2008 trailer now!

The 2008 edition of the E3 Media and Business Summit last week was pretty much slammed by many top gaming publisher executives including the CEO of Electronic Arts. Many felt the invite only event had too little news and not enough attention to warrant it's continuation next year without major changes.

Gamespot contacted the show's organizers the Electronic Software Association who confirmed that a 2009 edition of the show "will occur." However, the ESA could be making at least some alterations to the show next year, saying, "As we do every year, we're beginning the process of surveying exhibitors and attendees to determine potential changes to the Summit." Will we return to some kind of larger trade show like event or perhaps even a consumer event a la PAX or Tokyo Game Show? Could we even see the large scale return of booth babes? Stay tuned.

Players familiar with the first Operation Flashpoint should know it as an open-ended military shooter. The sequel, Dragon Rising, continues to deliver a grand scope of combat to make players feel like actual soldiers fighting in a real environment. Dragon Rising takes place on the oil rich island of Skira, which sits north of Japan off the coast of Russia. Where there are resources, there's conflict, and both Russia and China vie for control over the land. America maintains a small consulate and a handful of marines on the island to protect its commercial interests, but the spark of conflict threatens to ignite a war when soldiers from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) start landing on the island to stake a claim.

The narrator of this Singularity trailer possesses an air of weary resignation. "This may be the last time my voice is heard," he says in an Eastern European accent. He goes on to tell us, without giving any details, that something really bad has happened, and continues to happen. And then all sorts of electrical phenomena occurs, intershot with images of military personnel and a mysterious, glowing figure.

So what exactly is Singularity? And what's going on, anyway? See for yourselves in the HD version of this E3 2008 trailer, downloadable right here on Big Download. And if you find out, maybe it's better that you keep it to yourselves, so that later, you won't have to say "I told you so."

Download the Fallout 3 E3 2008 trailer now!

After having the current version of E3 getting slammed left, right and center, it's a tad refreshing to see a game industry spokesperson state that there is still a need for the show. That person is Bethesda Softworks' PR head Pete Hines. In a chat with TechRadar UK he states, "I'm a firm believer that we need an E3."

That doesn't mean he believes the current step-up for the show (an invite-only event of 5,000 at the LA Convention Center) is the way to go for future E3s. Hines states, "It either needs to go back to an improved version of last year (invite only but in several Santa Monica hotels), or something closer to what it was but perhaps with some controls and boundaries put on it so the bigger companies aren't strapped with trying to outdo each other with booths the size of a small city." It's not likely that E3 will return to the Santa Monica set-up but perhaps a return to the good old days of larger booths (and booth babes?) could happen.

[Via Joystiq]