Next week, your faithful GameCyte editors will brave the harsh environs of Los Angeles to attend the 2008 Electronic Entertainment Expo. We’d say we hope to see you there, but since last year, E3 has instituted a fairly strict “by invitation only” policy, relegating attendance to exhibitors and press. As such, unless you’ve got an official, non-transferable invite, we won’t be seeing you on the show floor, or at the many conferences and presentations this year. We’d love to bring you along, we really would; we know you’d love to see all the games your favorite companies are working on, and ask those crafty developers the questions you genuinely care about. Well, we can still do that last part on your behalf! E3 is a big show, after all, and we won’t be able to do extensive, detailed features on every game there. So, we’d like you, the readers, to tell us which companies matter to you. Based entirely on reader input, we’ll set aside a full feature for the developer or game of your choice, getting answers to your questions and delivering the goods on your upcoming favorites.
Here’s how it works: We’ve given you a short list of developers and games who will be appearing at E3 next week. Leave us a comment specifying which exhibitor you’d like us to visit and interview, and, if enough of your fellow commenters happen to feel the same way, we’ll devote ourselves to doing just that. Got a favorite small-time developer you’re afraid will get overlooked this year? GameCyte is prepared to devote as much attention to them as you want. Got a specific question you’ve always wanted to ask your publisher of choice? Put it in your comment — we’ll get you an answer. Want to know exactly how the hell Sub-Zero is supposed to be able to beat up Superman? We’re prepared to ask.
Remember, this is nowhere near a complete list of E3 exhibitors — just ones we’re especially interested in. If we’ve omitted a company you’d like us to focus our feature on, don’t hesitate to tell us. Comment away!
- Valve Software
We’re sure you have plenty of questions about Left 4 Dead. In addition, we’re awfully curious how Team Fortress 2 sustains itself as a business — all those updates and maps are free, after all. Where does the development money come from? And is the Pyro a woman or not?
- 2K Games
Yes, yes, BioShock 2. We’re prepared to ask the important questions: When will we be playing Colonization, and will it still draw fire for not adequately brutalizing history? And does EA threaten to hold their breath if they can’t buy the company?
- MTV Games/Harmonix
Rock Band 2. What’s this we hear about free RB1 songs? Can we really play Steve Miller Band? Why the hell would you use Coheed & Cambria for the Wii commercial; do you not want to sell the game?
- Ubisoft
If there is any info to be had about Beyond Good & Evil 2, we want it. Give it to us. No, don’t tell me about Horsez! This is time I could be spending hearing new details about Jade & Pey’j!
- Tomy
Our resident Naruto expert will be on hand to deliver beatings in Clash of Ninja Revolution 2, will bring his own GameCube controller with which to do so, and will perform Primary Lotus upon anyone with the audacity to utter the words “believe” and “it” in close proximity.
- Deep Silver
Drooling will likely commence at the point we begin feasting our eyes (and, hopefully, trigger finger) on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky, after which we might remember to ask a few questions. Like how Deep Silver plans to differentiate “Oblivion Lost” now that
- Bethesda Softworks
has decided to find post-nuclear Oblivion all by their lonesome. Fallout 3 will be in attendance, and it’ll take more than irradiated shotguns and terrorist conspiracies to keep us away.
- Sega
Gold rings are a fine thing to have, and we’ll be sure to check out Sega’s line-up of promising new ways to collect them — but we’re hoping this year for an upgrade to Platinum. What say you?
July 8th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Hey guys. That is really cool you get to interview them. I only have two question for you though. This is going to Ubisoft please.
1 Is Red Steel 2 still in production?
2 I haven’t heard anything from Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 for the Wii in a while. Is that also in production?
Thanks so much GameCyte!
July 8th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
@Devin: I’ve got your questions jotted down, and as soon as we get our hands on a Ubisoft representative you can consider them asked.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
A few questions for Capcom:
1. What’s the status on getting Tatsunoko vs. Capcom released outside of Japan?
2. Are there any plans for your other fighter series such as Rival Schools, Star Gladiator, Power Stone, etc., such as releasing those games on download services like XBLA or PSN, or new installments of those games?
3. Any more details on the arcade joystick that’ll be released for Street Fighter 4?
July 13th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Requests?
1. Fallout 3
2. Call of Duty 5 (Wii)
3. DC Universe Online (Developed by Sony Online Entertainment unfortunately. Let’s hope it turns out better than Star Wars Galaxies.)
3 + 1/2. Ask Square-Enix to show some Song Summoner love to Zune owners?
July 16th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Haven’t yet spoken with anyone at Capcom or Ubisoft with the necessary knowledge, but a Square Enix rep told me that there are currently no plans for Song Summoner on Zune, or any other music player for that matter.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:06 pm
@Devin:
Ubisoft wouldn’t say anything about Red Steel 2 or the Wii MotionPlus — which in my opinion would make all the difference — but they did confirm that Brothers in Arms: Double Time (a Wii-control scheme double pack of Road to Hill 30 and Earned in Blood) would arrive around the same time as Hell’s Highway.
Double Time was slated for an August 14th release in Europe, and Hell’s Highway was confirmed for August 26th in the US. According to an interview at CVG, Double Time is finished, so unless Hell’s Highway slips again, look for it on shelves in late August.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:16 pm
@Nael M.:
From recent comments made by Capcom VP Christian Svensson, the status of Tatsunoko vs. Capcom appears to be one of testing the waters for enough interest to make it worth their while.
They’re showing it off at a number of anime and comic conventions and the like, as I’m sure you’re aware.