Vivendi Universal Games has announced its E3 2005 lineup and things do look different when Half-Life 2 is nowhere to be seen.
Blizzard seems to be the focus of Vivendi's attention this year with its StarCraft: Ghost, a tactical-action console game set in Blizzard's epic StarCraft universe. Blizzard will also showcase World of Warcraft, its massively multi-player online role playing game, which has already garnered more than 1.5 million subscribers in North America, Korea, and Europe. The game is scheduled to launch in mainland China in summer 2005 and will release in the region of Taiwan shortly thereafter. Multi-platinum global hip hop artist 50 Cent will lend his voice, likeness and music to Sierra Entertainment's upcoming 50 Cent: Bulletproof, which will debut at E3 behind closed doors. A demonstration of Scarface: The World is Yours, developed by Radical Entertainment, will premiere on the show floor. Scarface: The World is Yours is based on Hollywood's iconic underworld film from Universal Pictures.
Other major E3 releases from Sierra Entertainment include: F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon), developed by Monolith Productions, a first-person paranormal action thriller; The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, developed by Radical Entertainment, an action game based on the legendary comic from Marvel Enterprises; and Crash Tag Team Racing, also developed by Radical Entertainment, an action racing game that extends the multi-million unit-selling original character franchise in an all-new, hilarious interactive adventure.
StarCraft: Ghost
StarCraft: Ghost is a tactical-action console game set in Blizzard's epic StarCraft universe. In StarCraft: Ghost, players take part in the struggle for galactic domination as Nova, a deadly Ghost operative in the employ of the Terran Dominion. Twenty years of ruthless physical conditioning and techno-psychological instruction have transformed Nova into a being of terrifying potential. As she progresses through a series of story-driven missions, Nova is required to engage in a number of dangerous infiltration operations and deadly planetary battles. To complete Nova's mission objectives, players must execute intelligent tactical decisions while mastering an advanced arsenal of sophisticated weaponry and Nova's own psionic abilities.
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is an online role-playing experience set in the award-winning Warcraft universe. Players assume the roles of Warcraft heroes as they explore, adventure, and quest across a vast world. World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, which allows thousands of players to interact within the same world. Whether adventuring together or fighting against each other in epic battles, players will form friendships, forge alliances, and compete with enemies for power and glory.
50 Cent: Bulletproof
In 50 Cent: Bulletproof, 50 Cent gets caught in a web of corruption, double-crosses, and shady deals that lead him on a bloody path through New York's drug underworld. Teaming up with his G Unit crew, 50 Cent takes on the most dangerous crime families in the city, uncovering an international conspiracy with devastating implications. 50 Cent: Bulletproof is more than a game, it's a celebration of everything 50. The music, the lifestyle and the gritty look at urban life all come together to create a unique entertainment experience never seen before. 50 Cent: Bulletproof will feature new songs from 50 Cent recorded exclusively for the game, music from Get Rich or Die Tryin', The Massacre, and the soundtrack for his upcoming movie, as well as more than a dozen 50 Cent and G Unit videos along with new original hot beats and scoring from Sha Money XL (G Unit Exec Producer). In addition, the game will offer a sound studio mode in which gamers can mix and match new original freestyles by 50 Cent with new beats straight from the G Unit camp. 50 Cent: Bulletproof is scheduled for release in Fall 2005 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and in Spring 2006 for the PSP portable entertainment system .
Scarface: The World is Yours
Scarface, the epic film that transcends generations and appeals to contemporary and urban audiences alike is now coming for the first time to game consoles worldwide. In a complex world filled with excess and greed, players can take the role of Tony Montana, one of the most ruthless gangsters ever depicted on film. Highly acclaimed feature screenwriter, David McKenna, has written an original event-driven storyline that leads the player through a sordid and violent underworld. Scarface: The World is Yours will offer a gameplay environment that authentically recreates the historical time period of the film, touching on politics, news items and events of the day. Scarface: The World is Yours is scheduled for release in 2006 for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox® video and entertainment system from Microsoft, PC, and a next generation console.
F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon)
F.E.A.R is a paranormal action thriller presented entirely in first person. An unidentified paramilitary force infiltrates a multi-billion dollar aerospace compound, taking hostages but issuing no demands. The government responds by sending in special forces, but loses contact as an eerie signal interrupts radio communications. When the interference subsides moments later, the team has been obliterated in an inexplicable wave of destruction. As part of a classified strike team created to deal with threats no one else can handle, your mission is simple, contain this crisis before it spirals out of control.
Cutting edge graphics and sound combine with eerie special effects and gripping gameplay to produce one of the most immersive PC titles ever.
F.E.A.R. is scheduled for release in Fall 2005 for Microsoft Windows PC CD-ROM.
Crash Tag Team Racing
After being humiliated yet again by Crash Bandicoot at the end of Twinsanity, Dr. Neo Cortex returns to his evil scheming in his dilapidated Iceberg Lair. He hatches a sinister plan to challenge Crash to a seemingly friendly race competition...with plans of crushing the hapless bandicoot under the ruins of the hazardous racetrack! In CrashTM Tag Team Racing players will be able to fuse two cars together on the fly to form a super vehicle outfitted with a turret gun with the all-new "clashing" technology. Players can continue their adventures on foot with out-of-car action, allowing them to traverse an amusement park-like world where they can interact with other characters, collect items and complete mini-missions. CrashTM Tag Team Racing is scheduled for release in Fall 2005 for the
PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS and the PSP.
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
In The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, players can jump anywhere, climb anything and smash everything -- even destroy entire buildings -- as the Hulk, the strongest superhero there is! Based on The Incredible Hulk character franchise from Marvel Enterprises, this non-stop action and destruction-packed game is designed to be the best superhero game ever created. Players will create their own Hulk-powered weapons from almost anything they can rip out of the environment, unlock new moves to battle a variety of huge enemies in epic boss fights and experience deep and varied game elements by exploring free-roaming non-mission and side mission gameplay. The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction is scheduled for release in August 2005 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube.
