Videogame Industry Features and Editorials

Nintendo Dolphin
Nintendo

Less surprising, is the Dolphin's absence. No one expected to see games running, but Nintendo's complete refusal to even discuss their next-generation console was much different from Sony's PlayStation 2 trumping and even Microsoft's "we didn't want to but gamers begged us to bring it" X-Box publicity and closed door demonstrations.

Duke Nukem Forever
3D Realms/ Infogrames/ PC

That's two years running that Duke has hid out in some sleazy strip bar we presume rather than coming to the big show. George Broussard of 3dRealms has been quoted as saying that there are too many reasons for not revealing info about the title including alerting competitors to what they're up to as well as actually spoiling game content, but we have to wonder if it isn't the developers hanging out at sleazy strip bars and not the Duke himself.

Team Fortress 2
Valve Software/ Sierra/ PC

Sierra showed three first-person shooters: Tribes 2, SWAT 3 - Elite Edition and Half-Life for the Dreamcast. Team Fortress 2, the one that is probably most anticipated (though don't get us wrong, the three they showed are all outstanding titles that we can't wait to play) was nowhere to be found.

Psygnosis

Psygnosis recently closed up North American shop, and apparently took their PC games with them. Metal Fatigue and Hired Guns, at the least, were titles that many wanted to see.

989 Sports Titles for PlayStation2

They're announced in the ten-pound Sony impress the press binder, but the only PS2 sports titles on the floor, in any form, were over at the EA booth.

Sid Meier's Dinosaur Game
Firaxis/ Electronic Arts/ PC

Last year's Interactive Hall of Fame inductee Sid Meier's next project is obviously very far from completion, but the website is live and drumming hype. Everyone is accustomed to games being at E3 for three years running and while we can't say we are disappointed to see Mr. Meier stay away until he has more to show, his is a decidedly conspicuous absence.

Apple Computer
Apple/ Mac

In past years, Apple, in attempt to demonstrate their gaming savvy have maintained an E3 booth. This year, they recognized that E3 is about games, not berry colored computers and left the Electronic Entertainment Exposition to those who make and sell Electronic Entertainment. To keep it in perspective, no other computer manufacturer had a booth either. E3 is about games.

PS2 Crash Bandicoot
Naughty Dog/ Sony/ PS2

We certainly expected Sony's default mascot to make an appearance for if not launch then at least very near to it. Nope. Not gonna happen. Crash Bash for the PlayStation, but Sony is evidently relying on the strength of the PlayStation brand to sell the PS2 and never minding their bandicoot mascot and the great games Naughty Dog makes for him. Chances are somebody's making a PS2 Crash Bandicoot title, but it wasn't at E3 2000.

Eidos Party
House of Blues/ Eidos/ Cross-Platform

After successive years of inviting everybody to a venue that only holds one thousand and irritating the city, the fire marshal, those who couldn't get in and even those who did, Eidos decided their party at the House of Blues was more trouble than it was worth and just went to other people's parties instead of hosting their own.

main news reviews previews features codes downloads watch tv gameface interact corporate newsletter SEARCH EP EP AFFILIATES
	""

		> Something's Missing… 10 Conspicuous E3 Absences E3 at a Glance \| Sony \| Sega \| Nintendo \| PC \| Mac \| Online \| Portables \| Driving \| Strategy \| Sports \| Action \| Shooters \| RPG \| Classics \| Games that defy explanation \| Horror \| Celebrity games \| Gadgets \| too much hype \| not enough hype \| Sequels that matter \| Sequels that don't \| What are they Thinking?? \| Something's Missing \| Best VideoDemo \| Behind Closed Doors \| Things we Almost Forgot \| Game of Show \| E3 Wrap Up
		Gameboy Advance Nintendo "So, the Game Boy Advance is finished and there are games for it. We just can't have it yet?" "That's right." "We can't even see what it looks like?" "No." "Because retailers want to keep selling eleven year-old Game Boy technology and Pokemon cartridges." "Yes." "Basically, we're waiting for Gold and Silver to run their cycle.." "Yes,…" "OK…, next topic then…" This from a meeting with a Nintendo executive at E3 and while such a statement may frustrate gamers looking for the latest and greatest, it shouldn't surprise them; much. The world devouring momentum of Pokemon products account for more than 17.3 million videogame unit sales with the complete franchise grossing $1.8 billion in the US last year -projected revenues for 2000 are $3.0 billion- and such sales have driven Game Boy Color sales to astounding heights (8 million hardware units sold in the US over the course of the past fiscal year). Worldwide, to date, Pokemon products have grossed more than fourteen billion almighty US dollars. No 32 bit RISC processor and Reflective TFT Color LCD screen are going to stand in the rolling path of that weighty a revenue snowball. So, yes considering the thing is complete and ready to manufacture, the Game Boy Advance was conspicuously absent from E3, especially considering that the unit is supposed to be backwards compatible anyway. Nintendo reminded the world that the Game Boy Advance is coming and made their "retailers asked us to withhold it" apology then flat out refused to even speak of it or the Dolphin for the remainder of the show. Lest we forget, the Game Boy Advance technical specs are as follows: CPU: Memory embedded 32-bit RISC-CPU (CPU core by ARM in UK adopted) LCD Screen: Reflective TFT Color LCD Display Size: 40.8mm x 61.2mm Resolution: 240 x 160 pixels Color Palette: Displays 512 colors simultaneously from a palette of 65,000 Size: Approximate Height 80mm / Width 135mm / Depth 25mm Weight: Approximately 140g Power Supply: 2 AA Alkaline batteries Battery Life: 20 hours continuous play The eight month old press release also speaks of cellular phone networking and a digital camera accessory. The possibilities are exciting but gamers will have to wait for Pokemon Gold and Silver to run Nintendo's pocket lining course this fall before they'll have the chance to get their hands on a unit. While the Game Boy Advance was the most conspicuous handheld absence, there were others. Sony's oft rumored 32-bit pocket PlayStation and SNK's confirmed in development 32-bit handheld were also complete no-shows. Patience, they say, is a virtue… -Jules Grant >>>next	Nintendo Dolphin Nintendo Less surprising, is the Dolphin's absence. No one expected to see games running, but Nintendo's complete refusal to even discuss their next-generation console was much different from Sony's PlayStation 2 trumping and even Microsoft's "we didn't want to but gamers begged us to bring it" X-Box publicity and closed door demonstrations. Duke Nukem Forever 3D Realms/ Infogrames/ PC That's two years running that Duke has hid out in some sleazy strip bar we presume rather than coming to the big show. George Broussard of 3dRealms has been quoted as saying that there are too many reasons for not revealing info about the title including alerting competitors to what they're up to as well as actually spoiling game content, but we have to wonder if it isn't the developers hanging out at sleazy strip bars and not the Duke himself. Team Fortress 2 Valve Software/ Sierra/ PC Sierra showed three first-person shooters: Tribes 2, SWAT 3 - Elite Edition and Half-Life for the Dreamcast. Team Fortress 2, the one that is probably most anticipated (though don't get us wrong, the three they showed are all outstanding titles that we can't wait to play) was nowhere to be found. Psygnosis Psygnosis recently closed up North American shop, and apparently took their PC games with them. Metal Fatigue and Hired Guns, at the least, were titles that many wanted to see. 989 Sports Titles for PlayStation2 They're announced in the ten-pound Sony impress the press binder, but the only PS2 sports titles on the floor, in any form, were over at the EA booth. Sid Meier's Dinosaur Game Firaxis/ Electronic Arts/ PC Last year's Interactive Hall of Fame inductee Sid Meier's next project is obviously very far from completion, but the website is live and drumming hype. Everyone is accustomed to games being at E3 for three years running and while we can't say we are disappointed to see Mr. Meier stay away until he has more to show, his is a decidedly conspicuous absence. Apple Computer Apple/ Mac In past years, Apple, in attempt to demonstrate their gaming savvy have maintained an E3 booth. This year, they recognized that E3 is about games, not berry colored computers and left the Electronic Entertainment Exposition to those who make and sell Electronic Entertainment. To keep it in perspective, no other computer manufacturer had a booth either. E3 is about games. PS2 Crash Bandicoot Naughty Dog/ Sony/ PS2 We certainly expected Sony's default mascot to make an appearance for if not launch then at least very near to it. Nope. Not gonna happen. Crash Bash for the PlayStation, but Sony is evidently relying on the strength of the PlayStation brand to sell the PS2 and never minding their bandicoot mascot and the great games Naughty Dog makes for him. Chances are somebody's making a PS2 Crash Bandicoot title, but it wasn't at E3 2000. Eidos Party House of Blues/ Eidos/ Cross-Platform After successive years of inviting everybody to a venue that only holds one thousand and irritating the city, the fire marshal, those who couldn't get in and even those who did, Eidos decided their party at the House of Blues was more trouble than it was worth and just went to other people's parties instead of hosting their own.
		E3 at a Glance \| Sony \| Sega \| Nintendo \| PC \| Mac \| Online \| Portables \| Driving \| Strategy \| Sports \| Action \| Shooters \| RPG \| Classics \| Games that defy explanation \| Horror \| Celebrity games \| Gadgets \| too much hype \| not enough hype \| Sequels that matter \| Sequels that don't \| What are they Thinking?? \| Something's Missing \| Best VideoDemo \| Behind Closed Doors \| Things we Almost Forgot \| Game of Show \| E3 Wrap Up