E3 06: Crysis, Spore, Next-gen Madden top EA E3 roster

LOS ANGELES--Those who have attended the Electronic Entertainment Expo in the past know exactly when they've entered the Los Angeles Convention Center's South Hall. Immediately through the front doors stands the Electronic Arts booth, complete with some of the biggest displays of the show, letting people know just how much of a force it is in the industry.

While the fancy TV screens and booming sound systems may satisfy the needs of gearheads, it takes more than lights and wires to impress gamers. Today, EA announced its lineup of games that it will be showcasing at the expo, and it includes a mix of familiar mainstays as well as new intellectual properties.

Madden NFL 07 returns gamers to the gridiron and will be released, as usual, in August. This year Madden is tackling the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, PC, PlayStation Portable, DS, and Game Boy Advance. A Wii version was previously revealed as being in the works, and tonight EA confirmed that the Wii version will make an appearance--and be playable--at this year's E3. The title's PlayStation 3 version will also be playable on the show floor, EA confirmed tonight.

The running game will be fleshed out even more this year, with the ability to control the lead blocker before filling in the running back's shoes, as well as player-specific moves with the all-new "highlight stick."

Those who prefer the more traditional use of shotguns and bullets will get some looks at the first-person shooters Battlefield 2142 and Crysis, both for the PC. For a more broad look at combat, EA will show off the newest Command & Conquer game, C&C 3 Tiberium Wars, also for the PC. Army of Two shows itself for the first time, and represents EA's sole PS3 game announced for the expo.

A few titles that gamers had hoped to see were not included in EA's list. Medal of Honor: Airborne and the recently revealed Project Gray Company are noticeably absent, as well as any other games for the Wii. One mainstay franchise that won't be appearing at EA's booth is James Bond, as Activision recently picked up the license.

This is the list of games that EA has given the media a heads-up on, and there will likely be a few surprises at the show as well, including some more Wii and PlayStation 3 games.

For a full list of EA's announced E3 lineup with updated release dates (where applicable), see below:

Army of Two--PS3, Xbox 360 (2007)
Battlefield 2142--PC (fall 2006)
Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars--PC (2007)
Crysis--PC (winter 2006)
Def Jam: Fight for NY: The Takeover--PSP
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II--Xbox 360 (summer 2006)
Madden NFL 07--Xbox 360, PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC, PSP, DS, GBA (August 2006)
NASCAR 07--PSP
NBA Live 07--PS3, Xbox 360
NCAA Football 07--Xbox 360, Xbox, PS2, PSP (summer 2006)
Spore--PC (TBD)
Superman Returns: The Videogame--PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox, GameCube, DS (Q4 2006)