[UPDATE] Publisher pulling curtain on Mario & Sonic at the Olympics for the first time; Condemned 2, Iron Man, Sega Rally Revo also on docket.
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--In years past, publishers have used the Electronic Entertainment Expo to announce new games, taking advantage of the global audience tuned in to the trade show. However, as it did last year, Sega has played the bricklayer, paving its road to E3 well in advance with announcements for games such as Mario & Sonic at the Olympics, Ghost Squad, and NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams. However, while the publisher isn't using the annual trade show as a venue for its big reveal, Sega's lineup includes many games whose details have been sparse at best.
One of the more intriguing games Sega will be showing for the first time at this year's show is Mario & Sonic at the Olympics. The once bitter rivals bring their respective posses to that great harmonizer of disparate factions, the Olympic games, where they will face off in events including track and field, archery, gymnastics, and more. Mario & Sonic at the Olympics will be shown on both the Wii and Nintendo DS.
Sega's lineup includes three more Nintendo-platform exclusives. Announced during the publisher's gamers' day in May, Sega will be porting its arcade light-gun shooter Ghost Squad to the Wii. Also for the Wii will be the revival of the Sega Saturn's non-Sonic mascot, NiGHTS. In the jester's follow-up adventure, Journey of Dreams, Sega will again seek to push creativity in gaming, this time by way of the Wii's motion-sensing controls. Pulling double duty, Sonic will make his second appearance of the show with classic platforming action in Sonic Rush Adventure for the DS.
On the multiplatform front, Sega will be showing its book-to-film-to-game adaptation Golden Compass. Set to follow the first book in Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, Golden Compass will be shown on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, and PC. Sega will also be wielding its modern-day gladiatorial-style shooter The Club on the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
And as expected, the publisher will be showing off its postapocalyptic sci-fi real-time strategy game Universe at War: Earth Assault, on both the PC and Xbox 360. Sega will also give gamers a chance to see just how well it updated its online-fighting-enabled fighter Virtua Fighter 5 in the Xbox 360 version. Wrapping up its offerings, Sega plans on showing the recently announced Dungeon Siege spiritual successor, Space Siege, from Gas Powered Games.
Check back later this week for GameSpot's complete E3 coverage, as well as to get a more in-depth look at what Sega has on offer.
[UPDATE] On Tuesday morning, Sega released an officially updated show listing. Adding to the Japanese publisher's lineup will be several multiplatform releases. Condemned 2: Bloodshot, the sequel to Monolith's horror action game released in 2005, will be shown for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. From acclaimed rhythm-game designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Sega Rally Revo will also be steering its way to the show on the PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, and PC.
Sega also revealed Iron Man would be headed to the show. The publisher initially hadn't indicated which platforms the metal-clad hero would appear on. Aside from initially only being slated for "next-gen platforms," the publisher noted that Iron Man will appear on the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PS3, PS2, PSP, PC, Wii, and DS. The game is now slated to appear in Spring 2008.
Also at the show will be the recently announced anime-inspired Bleach: Shattered Blade on the Wii and Bleach: The Blade of Fate, both of which will be released this fall.
Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.
i have a major question like i am the biggest bleach fan that i know of so far and i was into the game shattered blade for wii so i was wondering how come u guys do not have bleach verses crusade for nintendo wii out yet everyone i know is waiting for it wants it and expects that these 2 games come out in the USA and Canada
"Iron Man will appear on the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PS3, PS2," Ps3, ps2,ps3,ps2? Tyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyypppppppppppppo
Hey Sega, Release a New console Please, I'm sick of these new Lame consoles ( exept wii, thtas kewl), your consoles are the reason i loved games, since the dreamcast died i have no real interest in games :( Release New Console NOW!, WOW us in E3 08!
HO!HO! More mediocre 3rd party games for the western market by Sega of America. Sigh. I feel sorry for Sega of America, it's depressing how as a struggling 3rd party publisher they continue to churn out these lame titles to fill their qouta. Sonic and Mario olympics? Come on! I really hope that SEGA of America throws in the towel on 3rd party titles and I hope that SOA can convince SEGA of Japan that there's a chance they can make it in the console race again. As much as I love SEGA, I suspect that 2007-08 could be thier last year as a 3rd party publisher. But as least thier PC lineup is great.
Yeah, big pity about Golden Axe (if not during E3, TGS), and where are the Sega Classics offerings for Xbox Live Arcade?...I'm really anticipating seeing some real footage from The Club. That game could be the best. I've no interest in Nintendo, anymore.
The only good game on that list would be NiGHTS: Journey into Dreams.. Sega needs its own console....NOW!
ffs where is shenmue?! Have they not realised it could be a killer? Maybe the legendary hype has overawed them. meh screw sonic
they need to stop makin Sonic games, it all went to total crap after Shadow the Hedgehog...
Dear Sonic: Who's your daddy? Signed, Mario P.S. Take a bath before stepping foot in Nintendo.
BTW, after reading through the comments, its great to see the real historical Sega fans all clammoring for the same games. We're all still out there, but NuSega just doesn't care. That's why I said Sega's dead to me. But, NiGHTS is worth keeping an eye on and VF5 is a storied series. But I'm not interested in the Sonic games and the 360 and PS3 offerings are games that any publisher could be releasing. There are very few publishers with the library catalog of Sega's caliber, and they JUST DON'T CARE ...
How the mighty have fallen. Sega used to be a driving force in the arcade and console scene. After killing off one franchise after another with bad games, all they have left is poor Sonic to get pimped out more than Mario. At this point Sega should just start doing classic game compilations of its great arcade games. I'd like to see some Master System games on Virtual Console too.
Ooh Space Siege. That sounds interesting. Maybe better setting for the gameplay in Dungeon Siege. Of course, I didn't play Dungeon Siege 2, so I can't speak for that one.
I want a sequel to Skies of Arcadia, that game was amazing on the dreamcast and the remake on the cube was ok...but i want another Along with another Shenmue
Nights into dreams better be good to make up for all the crappy Sonic games past Sonic Adventure 2..
Dude I'd kill for another Jet Grind Radio or the Final Shenmue. But still I don't mind Virtua Fighter 5 I have been waiting for this for month!!
Hmm... interesting. I suppose it's time. I am Yoichi, the president of Square Enix. Final Fantasy VII has been remade for the PS3 for its tenth anniversary, and for the series' twentieth anniversary. It will quietly be put onto store shelves later this year.
Wake me when they announce Genesis 2. Kidding. I can't say I'm excited about all these titles, but it is good to see Sega has such a strong showing.
I admit, while I would've liked to have seen Golden Axe, or Shenmue 3, or a number of other titles here, their lineup isn't really unpredictable given their position. Instead of shunning them, lets just hope they really focus on quality this time round, and get these games right. Lets face it, they don't have a lot of untarnished cards left on the table. NiGHTS is a very special moment in gaming history for many of us - so lets just pray they don't let us down. Again.
This one really made me laugh! Shenmue 1 was for Dreamcast. Shemue 2 was for Dreamcast. Jet Set Radio was for Dreamcast. And there is a game Shemue Online currently under development, to be released sometime in 2008
And still no 3D version of Streets of Rage. And no, Spike Out was not the successor of Streets of Rage. It's time for a proper Streets of Rage in 3D. BTW great to hear that Sega is doing a new Golden Axe.
It seems to me that most negative comments come from those who only like FPSs and generally violent games... I wonder how a line-up of Sonic, NiGHTS, Virtua Fighter, Sega Rally, Mario and Sonic and other could be weak, when every single of these games has a potential of selling more than 1 million of copies.
As part of multiyear exclusive arrangement, DICE and Visceral will work on new "core" Star Wars games. Full Story
[UPDATE] Patrice Desilets says Ubisoft terminated his position today and did not allow him to collect personal belongings. Full Story
New research finds frequent exposure to violent games can have numbing effect on teenagers, though no cause-and-effect relationship proven. Full Story
Subscriber base for aging MMO dips 1.3 million in three months; Activision Blizzard posts $456 million profit on $1.32 billion in revenue for Q1. Full Story
"FIFA continues to be very strong," says EA, which has been making FIFA games since 1993. Full Story
MachineGames' upcoming shooter will be single-player-only experience. Full Story
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag producer says Sony has created a compelling piece of technology and it is up to designers to make most of it. Full Story
Metal Gear Rising confirmed for PC
Hideo Kojima reveals Revengeance coming to the PC, though release date, features are unknown.
