I spent a bit of time straightening my closet this morning and stumbled upon an old spindle of CDs. One of the CDs was labeled "E3 2001" and, sure enough, was filled with goodies dating back to that particular event. One of the strangest things within was an old post ("fake press release") I must have made all those years ago on the CD in a text document. It's rather terrible, but I found it mildly entertaining to recall those days...
Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking either.
Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking either.
Here is a small chunck out of the upcoming games at E3 for the X-box.
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3DO Company LTD
Report from www.computerandvideogames.com
3DO Co Introduces New Video Game Line Which Targets Core Game Audience With Breathtaking 3D Animation and In-Your-Face Gameplay!
"Our new lineup is going to set the gaming world on fire!", 3DO CEO Trip Hawkins tells us. "We have aligned ourselves with Microsoft to deliver a new exclusive lineup of games specifically designed for X-box!"
Perhaps the most anticipated and popular series making its way to X-box is the "Army Men" line of games.
Mr. Hawkings continues...
"With the power of Microsoft X-box under our command, you will have the opportunity to kill those tan bastards in new and amazing looking ways!"
Currently scheduled for release (confirmed)
Army Men Sarge's Heroes X
Army Men Sarge's Heroes 3
Army Men Air Attack 3
Army Men World War : Final Front X
Army Men Green Rogue (PS2 port)
Army Men Green Rogue 2
Army Men Ground Zero
Rumored to be in development
Army Men Battle Kartz (based on the WDL engine)
Unnamed Army Men RPG
Army Men Tan Assault
Portal Runner X (PS2 port)
"X-box allows us unleash the Army Men in ways you have never imagined", one of the devlopers informs us. "Imagine the drama of a large scale battle with X-chip powered visuals! We have over 3 megabytes of compressed textures in here. It's just incredible stuff."
Someone close to the Army Men projects also mentioned the possibilty of an Army Men Online, or at least online capabilities.
"As you know, the X-box comes with an ethernet adapter right out of the box. We are looking at ways to take advantage of both this and the internal hard disk drive." He then whispers to us, "Expect to see Army Men Sarge's Heroes X and Army Men Air Attack 3 both online AT launch. There has never been anything like this! Imagine having four people on one console playing four other consoles each with 4 people! Army Men will never be the same!"
3DO also plans to unveil a sequel AND port of one of 2001's most epic releases, Warriors of Might and Magic.
"This is simply going to blow the PS2 version away", were are told with a smile. "You can perform two new types of slash here plus cast 3 new spells. When you see how this plays out in the game, you will be blown away". He also adds, "We are looking to include a 4 player splitscreen mode as well. There will be 3 selectable Warriors available with one to unlock after you finish the quest!"
Finally, there was no mention of the steller WDL series making an appearance on the Box. When we inquired about it we simply recieved a round of laughter amongst the team. The WDL producer, Gary Taylor told us with a wink, "...there's always E3"
I guess that wraps up our exclusive report of 3DO for the moment. We will have up the full interview on Monday!
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Taken from xbox.ign.com
Titus Announces New X-box Lineup! We Have the X-clusive look!
We recently talked with the head producer at Titus and he informed us of the following developments.
XRoadsters
Zooming to an X-box near you, XRoadsters brings high speed 60 fps racing and real world disasters together! Tornados, Hurricanes, everything! EXPERIENCE IT!
--Kao the Kangaroo 2
Kao the boxing Kanga returns for a second adventure! This time, the evil Bao has stolen the 8 life crystals that power the land. Can you and Kao save his world before
it's too late?
Features----
168 brand new levels
Smooth 30 fps framerate
Interactive Soundtrack using the X-box harddrive
4-player splitscreen multiplayer mode featuring Tag, Deathmatch, and CTF
Includes a PC port of the blockbuster "Kao the Kangaroo"
That addictive platform gameplay only Titus can deliver
--The New Adventures of Superman
Guide Superman through the most incredible city environments yet scene in an interactive game! In this update to the 1999 N64 "Game of the Year", you must use your powers in ways that simply were not possible before!
Features----
56 missions to unleash your super powers
CONSTANT 30 fps
4-player splitscreen featuring all of your favorite Superman characters
2 NEW powerups
Fully orchestrated music
--Xena : Warrior Princess X
Xena is back in this epic fighter. The Legend has finally died, and a new champion of fighting games is here to claim the throne. Choose from 6 characters directly from the smash hit TV series!
Features----
Whopping 6 playable characters!
60 fps battles
4-player fighting!
Others rumored for development...
Hurcules : The Legendary Journey 2
Ardy Lightfoot 3
Titus appears to have a strong lineup on the way, we can't wait to see how they turn out!
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Take 2 Entertainment Announces Budget Launch Titles! (taken from www.dailyradar.com)
Take 2 just informed us that they have not 1, not 2, BUT 3 Spec Ops games in the works for X-box.
Spec Ops 3
Spec Ops Collection
Spec Ops Online (Broadband Edition)
...are all in the works. Who says X-box won't have online play out of the box?
Take 2 firmly believes that MS has what it takes to win and their Spec Ops line will all be priced at the $10 range.
A Take 2 insider tells us, "The thing lacking from most launches is the budget line of games, and that is what we are aiming for! The Spec Ops series is one of the most highly reguarded line of games available today (points to sales charts). We are even negotiating a deal to INCLUDE the Spec Ops Collection FREE with purchase of an X-box!" He chuckles to himself and says, "Sure beats the free hamburger you get with your X-box purchase in Japan".
We couldn't agree more.
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Next, MS KNOWS that it must target every group to win the console wars. Acclaim and
developer M4 Ltd. are stepping up to the plate with an exclusive line of "Mary-Kate and Ashley" games developed the X-box!
Mary-Kate and Ashley: Winners Circle X
Mary-Kate and Ashley: Magical Mystery Mall 2
...are both rumored for development and should hopefully make some nice additions to
the launch!
Acclaim also has 6 new games in its poplular "ECW Hardcore" series waiting for the X-box launch!
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THQ Lineup
THQ, best known for its WWF games, is well on its way to delivering some of the hottest Box titles out there.
First up, a port of the 1st installment in the popular RPG series "Aidyn Chronicles" complete with X-chip powered visuals, full voice work, faster paced battles, and renewed environments and character models!
THQ ALSO has a sequel to the popular Nintendo 64 RPG, Quest 64. Quest 2:The Rise of Vuller is well on its way to making the X-box launch this fall. We are told that Brian will be given 3 new weapons and a much larger world to explore. Hopefully they will crush some of the problems found in Nintendo 64 version of the game.
THQ also announced 26 Rugrats games for the X-box, 16 of which should be available for launch!
Finally, THQ is expanding its Vince McMahon license to include the new XFL. THQ expects to release XFL 2002 for X-box with internet play out of the box and a full cheer leader management option!
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989 not happy with Sony?
You may have noticed lately that all of the series, excluding sports, that 989 created
and published on Playstation have been handed off to other developers by Sony themselves. 989 is not happy about the pulling of their projects and now, it seems 989 is biting Sony in the what? That's right, they are apparently leaving Sony and going X-box
exclusive under a new name (yet to be revealed). They are rumored to be working on 4 new football games (based on the Gameday 2001 engine) and 1 unnamed car combat game.
THIS JUST IN!
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Head Games goes X-box?
With the decline in the PC market, Head Games has turned to the ultim@te platform, Microsoft X-box.
"Our X-treme line of games PERFECTLY fits the demographic Micorosft is aiming for on the X-box", the Lead Production Manager tells us. "With the power of X-box, our games come alive right before your eyes!"
They will officially unveil their titles at E3, but for now we know they have the following in development.
X-treme Paintbrawl Ultimate Edition
X-treme Bullrider
X-treme Rodeo II
X-treme Rock Climbing
Also, coming from PC roots, Simon and Schuster has a sequel to the family favorite "Who Wants to Beat up a Millionaire". Who Wants to Beat up Another Millionaire is currently scheduled for launch.
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Big Ape going Ape with NEW X-box games?
We have heard through the grape vine that Big Ape Productions and Activision/Fox are looking to bring out a sequel to popular "Simpson's Wrestling" franchise.
"X-box lets us unleash Bart, Homer, and the rest of the simpson gang with new 60 fps X-chip enhanced visuals!", we're told. "Cell shading at its finest and the Simpon's license help make this possible."
According to Big Ape, SW2 will feature 3 new moves and 1 new voice sample PLUS 234 new arenas for the crew to battle it out in. Sadly, they were not able to obtain the original voice actors but they ASSURE US that Simpson's Wrestling 2 will feature voices that sound "just like" the first game.
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Lucas Arts, is the force with them?
I would think so! In an official press release, Lucas officially announced "Star Wars Super Bombad Racing 2" for launch.
"With Super Bombad Racing PS2 we had to reduce the size of the character's heads so that we had enough space for the textures. With the unlimited potential of MS X-box we can bring about our original vision!"
When asked about the cancelled "Star Wars Episode I : Obi Wan" for the PC, Lucas informed us that they were planning to release it for Gameboy Advance this fall.
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Pitbul Syndicate Reveals the REAL Test Drive?
We were just informed that Test Drive for X-box is NOT the same as Test Drive for PS2.
According to an Infogrames spokesperson, "TDX is the continuation of the best in the series. We are doing a full fledged port of the Sega Dreamcast version of "Test Drive 6". TDX provides the same great experience and thrills of TD6 for Dreamcast, BUT with courses that are 8 times as long!!! PLUS, we are taking advantage of the X-box's hard drive and will have over 500 songs!"
We will keep you informed as more on this hot title is revealed.
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Infogrames reveals rest of lineup!
See Infogrames at E3 and prepare to be BLOWN AWAY! That's right, Infogrames has just announced a handful of new titles on their way to the box.
Infogrames official report (taken from Infogames.com)
Animorphs - Shattered Reality - The Next Wave
Game Features:
Play as the main characters of the series. Choose Jake, Rachel, Cassie and Marco!!!
Morphing! 10 total morphs using proprietary X-chip based morphing technology.
100 massive levels with 19 unique environments. Plus, 4 X-box exclusive boss arenas
Exploration / Story Elements. Not just an ordinary X-box game. You must explore your world and figure out how to proceed and solve the game.
More Twouble
Can't Tweety be safe for at least 3 minutes without there being some trouble? It's unlikely because Sylvester is on the prowl. He's a crafty cat, always plotting new ways to capture poor Tweety. It's bad news for Tweety, Sylvester's up to no good and in this enhanced X-box port you will experience it like never before!
Game Features:
Explore Granny's neighborhood in full X-chip powered glory!
Collect, combine and push objects to capture Tweety with X-box controller!
Avoid millions of obstacles: bulldog teeth, electric wires and especially Granny's BROOM!
Sounds like a killer lineup and nicely compliments the port of Test Drive 6!
