Huzzah! It's August again, which can only mean two things; the sun has finally decided to shine (briefly) on the British Isles after a disastrous summer, and CVG is about to put its shoes - and spines - to the test by trying to make a stupid number of back-to-back Games Convention appointments on time. We're already missing July...
This year Leipzig GC (read our recent feature if you haven't the foggiest what that is) is arguably the most important event in the gaming calendar behind E3 as well as the only (aside from TGS).
Every high profile game, developer and publisher is out in force, showcasing this year's phenomenal Christmas line-up and lifting the lid on some of the 2008 games we didn't get to hear about at E3. That's what it looks like being anyway.
It's going to be an exciting show for gamers, and CVG will of course be doing the rounds to bring you the big news, interviews and hands-on impressions as quickly as our tired and overly-sausage-filled bodies can get the words on the internet. What should you expect to appear on your monitors from 2007's German bash? Here's what we know so far...
A frag fest
Last year's event focused on the looming next-gen consoles but this year is all about big first-person shooters. By the end of the three days of pain and drinking, we expect to have played Haze, Call of Duty 4, Halo 3, Unreal Tournament III - and maybe even some other big name games we care not mention. (cough)Killzone(cough).
These blasters are all going to be competing for your cash in a few months time, and you can expect a full rundown of each - plus plenty of comparisons - straight from the German-filled show floor.
Lots of new games We already know about more than a handful of big titles being unveiled at the Leipzig event, many of which we're told should definitely be looked forward to. Take Two for one is set to reveal a "new first-person shooter for PC and next-gen consoles", according to a developer presentation schedule leaked to the internet. It makes perfect sense as well since its two big guns The Darkness and Bioshock will be on the streets by the time of the show. Look for the first details on this mysterious blaster next week.
Microsoft's cross-platform revealed Microsoft is going to make an announcement, and it looks like it has something to do with Games for Windows and Xbox Live cross-platform play. How do we know this? Site of Champions, the MS viral site promises "something" will happen on August 22 - the opening day of Games Convention. That how.
The company is also set to showcase even more of its holy Christmas trinity PGR4, Mass Effect and yes, Halo 3. Price cuts seem to be all the rage at the moment too...
As for the reveal, at the moment speculation ranges from a PC vs. 360 tourny contest to an entirely new game altogether. We probably won't have a clue either way until the news hits, but look out for full details plus commentary from Microsoft right here when it does.
EA wants ALL your money
Electronic Arts has a truly spectacular line-up for the next 12 months; at Leipzig GC it'll be showcasing Crysis, Half-Life 2: Orange Box, Burnout Paradise, FIFA 2008 and many more. It'll also be offering the press (that's us) its first chance to go hands-on with Will Wright's Spore, possibly one the most shockingly ambitious games ever conceived. Who knows? The publishing giant might even drop the odd announcement or two. We'd be perfectly happy with just Spore though.
Wii and PS3 ready for Christmas Nintendo's plans, as always, are shrouded in elephant's dose of secrecy. The company has confirmed that instead of a press conference - which it used last year to announce Mario Strikers Charged and a Battalion Wars sequel (and showcase Tim Henman) - it'll be holding "more intimate" press booth tours, giving happy journalists the chance to try out all of Nintendo's fresh-out-of-E3 demos (that means Wii Fit).
Likewise SCEE is expected to further cement its Christmas 2007 line-up - whilst giving further glimpses at its already revealed 2008 games. Killzone, LittleBigPlanet and Gran Turismo 5 are all shoe-ins for an appearance at the show, but with TGS just round the corner we're not sure how much will be lavished on us Europeans.
Metal Gear plans solidify (sorry) The dust is only starting to settle on last month's first gameplay demonstration, but Hideo Kojima's got his suitcase out and his upperclass earplugs and is preparing to demo again for the German public. A "completely new" trailer and gameplay demonstration is promised for the event, along with one of Hideo's "very special guests," whose identity has been kept secret for the meantime. We really hope it's Peter Moore - we miss him already.
If that wasn't enough, Konami also says it will reveal new gameplay secrets as well as making important announcements regarding "future Metal Gear Solid projects as well as Kojima Productions." Could we see even more Metal Gear games crop up on the 2008 release schedule? What about ZOE3? Snake in PES 2008? As long as it isn't another 'ruddy card game...
... and much, much more There's plenty more left on the list we haven't got room (read: can't be arsed) to write about; Blizzard will bring its pair of aces StarCraft II and Wrath of Lich King to Europe, MMOs ahoy! As Warhammer Online and A World of My Own take to the floor, Vivendi, Sega and Eidos put their games to the press and Unreal Tournament III, lovely UTIII, still looks fantastic.
Plenty to be excited about then, and we hope you'll join us on the news queue as we work our tired fingers as fast as we can, to bring you all the news from the event. Auf Wiedersehen Pet!
Stay tuned for our massive Leipzig coverage running from August 23 to 26
all i'm intrested in is pro evo 2008 and fifa 08. for 2 games that are so close to being released we still ain't heard much about the next gen versions.
all i'm intrested in is pro evo 2008 and fifa 08. for 2 games that are so close to being released we still ain't heard much about the next gen versions.
I pray that fifa08 for ps3 is'nt a duff version like madden 08 was - PLEASE EA!
all i'm intrested in is pro evo 2008 and fifa 08. for 2 games that are so close to being released we still ain't heard much about the next gen versions.
I pray that fifa08 for ps3 is'nt a duff version like madden 08 was - PLEASE EA!
WELL THAT WAS JUST A VERY LAZY PORT OF THE 360 GAME. FIFA SHOULD BE BUILT UP FROM SCRATCH TO WORK ON THE PS3. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IF THEY'RES ANY DIFFENCE BETWEEN BOTH VERSIONS OF PRO EVO CAUSE THE PS2 ONES STILL MUCH BETTER THAN THE 360 ONE AND I'M SURE I HEARD THE PS3 ONE'S OUT A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE 360 ONE.MIND U WILL I BE ABLE TO PULL MYSELF AWAY FROM HALO3 AND STRANGLEHOLD TO EVEN BOTHER WITH THEM.
Hey you forgot the new Command & Conquer expansion pack. Kane's Wrath. Adds subfactions, world domination gametype, new units, new music and a story that spans 20 years, and bridges the gap between TS and C&C3.
I'm definately looking forward to KW.
It's interesting to see that you didn't think of it. It really shows how forgettable and unpopular C&C has become. "How the mighty have fallen"...
all i'm intrested in is pro evo 2008 and fifa 08. for 2 games that are so close to being released we still ain't heard much about the next gen versions.
I pray that fifa08 for ps3 is'nt a duff version like madden 08 was - PLEASE EA!
WELL THAT WAS JUST A VERY LAZY PORT OF THE 360 GAME. FIFA SHOULD BE BUILT UP FROM SCRATCH TO WORK ON THE PS3. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IF THEY'RES ANY DIFFENCE BETWEEN BOTH VERSIONS OF PRO EVO CAUSE THE PS2 ONES STILL MUCH BETTER THAN THE 360 ONE AND I'M SURE I HEARD THE PS3 ONE'S OUT A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE 360 ONE.MIND U WILL I BE ABLE TO PULL MYSELF AWAY FROM HALO3 AND STRANGLEHOLD TO EVEN BOTHER WITH THEM.
all i'm intrested in is pro evo 2008 and fifa 08. for 2 games that are so close to being released we still ain't heard much about the next gen versions.
I pray that fifa08 for ps3 is'nt a duff version like madden 08 was - PLEASE EA!
WELL THAT WAS JUST A VERY LAZY PORT OF THE 360 GAME. FIFA SHOULD BE BUILT UP FROM SCRATCH TO WORK ON THE PS3. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IF THEY'RES ANY DIFFENCE BETWEEN BOTH VERSIONS OF PRO EVO CAUSE THE PS2 ONES STILL MUCH BETTER THAN THE 360 ONE AND I'M SURE I HEARD THE PS3 ONE'S OUT A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE 360 ONE.MIND U WILL I BE ABLE TO PULL MYSELF AWAY FROM HALO3 AND STRANGLEHOLD TO EVEN BOTHER WITH THEM.
Too many games to choose this year which is a good thing but I am mostly looking forward too Mario Galaxy, Metroid Corruption, Nights and Resi Umbrella Chronicles and Phantom Hour Glass of course!
Good time to be a PC gamer - but only if you like shooters and have an UBER machine! If console games weren't so dumbed down mostly i'd go console, but as it is, i'll just dig out my Planescape Torment again......!
I feel your pain bud. I feel your pain.
On another note, is Valve there? What about Turtle Rock Studios?? *cough* Left 4 Dead *cough*
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WELL THAT WAS JUST A VERY LAZY PORT OF THE 360 GAME. FIFA SHOULD BE BUILT UP FROM SCRATCH TO WORK ON THE PS3. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IF THEY'RES ANY DIFFENCE BETWEEN BOTH VERSIONS OF PRO EVO CAUSE THE PS2 ONES STILL MUCH BETTER THAN THE 360 ONE AND I'M SURE I HEARD THE PS3 ONE'S OUT A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE 360 ONE.MIND U WILL I BE ABLE TO PULL MYSELF AWAY FROM HALO3 AND STRANGLEHOLD TO EVEN BOTHER WITH THEM.
WHY? DO YOU HEAR THROUGH YOUR EYES?
