E3 06: E3 offers peek at exhibitor lineups

Early warnings given on new Painkiller ports, next-gen Nokia platform, Hudson's Revolution flight game, and new Dungeon Explorer.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo today released a list of "first look" products that will be debuting at the show May 10 to 12, and while most of the list reads like a who's who (or a "what's that?") of Kentia Hall, some notable items found their way into the list.

While the released list was nearly devoid of next-generation console games, Hudson Entertainment confirmed that it is working on a pair of next-gen console projects. First up is the tentatively titled Flight Game for the Revolution. As one might expect, the game will make use of the Revolution's controller to let players control their craft with gestures, letting them perform aerial acrobatics and drop bombs.

Another Hudson property of note is Dungeon Explorer for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation Portable. The original Dungeon Explorer was a top-down action role-playing game on the TurboGrafx-16 released in 1989. Now, some 17 years later, Hudson is bringing the brand back, "completely revamped and reenvisioned," with expanded multiplayer gameplay, customizable characters, and randomly generated maps. The Xbox 360 version of the game will support Xbox Live, while the PSP edition will let for four players go adventuring together. TG-16 fans might also be interested in one of the company's new mobile titles, Bonk's Return.

DreamCatcher Interactive also announced a few titles gamers might be interested in. First of all, the company is bringing its first-person shooter Painkiller series to the PlayStation 2 and PSP (along with the Havok 2.0 physics engine). It will also show a number of other titles at E3, including the PC mystery game Evidence. Putting the player on the trail of a notorious serial killer, Evidence will combine traditional gameplay with real-world e-mails and Web sites to attempt to immerse gamers more deeply in the story.

While the N-Gage hasn't set the gaming world on fire, Nokia's not done with the industry yet, as the company is promising to unveil its Nokia Next Generation platform. While a release date and details on the platform are nebulous at best so far, Nokia did confirm that "in 2007 Nokia multimedia computers will enable users to play N-Gage quality games and connect to anyone, anywhere to play, chat, and share."

Finally, it wouldn't be E3 without a few offerings out of left field, and it seems that this year's event won't disappoint in that aspect. French company XKPad is taking a crack at the long-attempted arena of motion-controlled fighting games with Bodypad for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

The Bodypad is a system of sensors players wear that correspond to button presses, and it works with any game that doesn't require the use of analog sticks. XKPad is promising that players can still perform 99 percent of the combos they could with a regular game pad. For videos of the system in action, check out the company's Web site.

In other unusual peripheral news, dreamGEAR is answering the call (however quiet it may have been) for a liquid-filled PS2 controller. The Lava Glow wireless controller will provide "Extreme Glow Effects" and feature liquid-filled hand grips. Sadly, the company has not yet released photos of the Lava Glow.

72 Comments

  • losburritos

    Posted Apr 24, 2006 12:56 pm PT

    Wooohoooo. Next generation gaming phone from Nokia. No. It will not be called the N-Gage cuz the N-Gage is only a platform for mobile gaming. I might have to sell my DS after I get the new phone.

  • m_machine024

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 7:25 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • yukine

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 7:52 am PT

    "Evidence" sounds a lot like that game "Missing Since January."

    I'm most definitely interested.

  • ParanoiaDragon

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 1:24 am PT

    First off, there were 4 DE games, 1 for Turbo Grafx, 1 for Turbo CD, 1 for Sega CD, and 1 for SNES based off of the Turbo CD game. The new Dungeon Explorer would rock, if it didn't have randomly generated maps. That's really not what any of the old Dungeon Explorer games were like. Ateast, I can't imagine Hudson back then doing something like that. Then again, I still can't imagine Hudson making the Sega CD Dungeon Explorer.

    Well, I guess my team can still make a Dungeon Explorer 3 for Turbo then! And why a new Bonk for cell phones? I want a new console, or atleast a PSP or DS Bonk! I've been waiting forever! Maybe we'll have to make one of those too.

  • Mr_Nihilism

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 11:04 am PT

    I might pick up Painkiller on PS2 and any support for the Rev is great, but otherwise...whatever.

  • Fallout_red

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 10:22 am PT

    Anything new by Sony,MS or Nintendo themsevles? (First party)

  • Spotse

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 8:45 am PT

    it's very interesting

  • ElJefeDeMedios

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 8:20 am PT

    Somebody has been drinking their own koolaid ....

  • faridmon

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 6:54 am PT

    another revo game!!!!!!, the system is getting better and better.

  • jimi_hendrix

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 6:23 am PT


    supercrap1
    I can't believe it's already been 27 years since 1989...

    Is it 2016 already? time realy flys by doesn't it...

  • GXR

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 5:49 am PT

    Vamroc, thanks pal
    For a second there I thought I was going crazy.

  • Paul_TheGreat

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 5:47 am PT

    Nokia setting themselves up for another failure.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 5:21 am PT

    dungeon explorer...... what an original name

  • joyer

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 5:02 am PT

    i wonder how coordinated i really am at street fighter.... probably not so easy to do a jump kick low kick hadoken combo in real life haha... i suppose its a good thing killer instinct isnt on either system... oooh tekken would be bad

  • darkdaej

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 4:39 am PT

    LOL Next-gen N-gage. who'dve thunk it?

  • aatish_n

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 2:34 am PT

    I wanna see the lava filled controller! sounds interesting

  • KiLLer_ba

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 2:16 am PT

    Interesting, E3 is just around the corner. I cant wait.

  • ewjim

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 1:13 am PT

    Great!

  • samekila

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 8:40 pm PT

    will like to see the new n gage plus everything else

  • Valen_Ca

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 8:12 pm PT

    Nokia, please just give it up, unless you have a system that can push at least X-Box 360 visuals with a 30 hour battery life selling it for less then $100 and have every developer on the planet make high quality games for it there is no way you are going to even crack the handheld gaming market.

  • mangodude202

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 6:58 pm PT

    a system that will play N-Gage quality games? first of all, how is that a good thing? and second, doesnt something like that already exist? isnt it called the N-Gage?

  • cyprus646

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 6:19 pm PT

    That REV game came as a surprise to me and OHHHHHHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOO not another Nokia system.

  • NeoJedi

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 6:19 pm PT

    Another Revolution game!

  • Skelitor

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 6:11 pm PT

    Awesome..................what does this have to do with anything now?

  • megamanzero32

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 5:54 pm PT

    lol I wish I could play DOA 4 with this pad

  • SCARFACELP

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 5:23 pm PT

    the guy above said(g-stuart)"I hope they will show us good games and demos from the present and next generation , not just videos and stuff that no one will ever buy plus dont bother showing material that will never see the light of day".

    ;-p

  • tmacyao111

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 5:20 pm PT

    This does seem interesting.

  • Shingo

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 5:00 pm PT

    WOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! EXTREME GLOW EFFECTS!!!!!!!!!!!!! TO THE MAX!!!!!!!!

  • abdu4

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 4:44 pm PT

    good news

  • g-stuart

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 4:42 pm PT

    Espero ke nos presenten buenos juegos y demos de la actual y sigueinte generacion , no solo videos, cosas ke nadie nunka komprara o material ke jamas saldra a la venta

  • g-stuart

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 4:40 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • nonsoville2

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 4:30 pm PT

    Woohoo. Gonna get meself some new N-Gage. Yup, yup....

  • peterzhao333

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 4:30 pm PT

    Coll new DeSIGN

  • tybearmvt

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 4:29 pm PT

    Hmmm... lets see...Gizmondo suddenly dissapears and Nokia announces a new console. Coincidence? I THINK NOT!! Maby they will call it the N-Mondo or maby the Nokia Giz-Gage?

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 4:18 pm PT

    nokia shouldnt be making games...

  • Pumper

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 4:10 pm PT

    ^ They'll be enough stand-out titles running off 360's, that MS won't need to show Halo 3.

  • metroidlink1030

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 4:01 pm PT

    They need to stop making shooters for the PSP... it just doesn't work well. I don't care if it's a game like Painkiller, it's still going to be a horrible experience. Also, what the hell is Nokia thinking? Another system? No one is going to buy it, even if it has good games (not likely). I'm going to be paying the most attention to Nintendo this year at E3. Their showing will determine whether I will get a Revolution or not, but I most likely will, if not just for the Virtual Console. I'm sure Nintendo will have a great showing, though. Red Steel looks pretty good, and I'm sure Smash Bros. and Metroid Prime 3 will look even better, not to mention the supposed sequel to Mario 64. MS will probably show a video for Halo 3 and everyone will be happy, and Sony really needs to get it together if they wanna earn more than the mainstream gamer's appeal, which they already have, of course, because they know nothing (no offense to anyone).

  • Orasion_Seiz

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 3:44 pm PT

    very nice lineups

  • FuguNabe

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 3:32 pm PT

    Most noteworthy news here is the return of Dungeon Explorer for PSP. More good games on my dying PSP certainly helps as my DS has been getting alot of attention for awhile. Let's hope the game is as good the previous PC-Engine titles. The other interesting one is the Hudson's flight game for the Rev which hopefully makes good use of the console's unique controller.

  • remmbermytitans

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 3:30 pm PT

    wow.... that was pretty pointless... so we know about 4 new games.... hooray..... psh.. wheres the real news? whens the REV coming out? whats the secret? how much is the PS3 going to cost?

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 3:26 pm PT

    Nokia? pffft not worth their time. It begins with a big fat NO ... w0ot for REVOLUTION news though E3 can't come quick enough

  • Pumper

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 2:39 pm PT

    Dungeon Explorer? That game was a blast to play with four players and a Turbo Tap....back then. I'm assuming this would be super enhanced on 360, which will be great, if not, they'd better make it a marketplace download.

  • Redstorm

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 2:30 pm PT

    Cool, let the E3 News start pouring in, well, it's not yet, but hopefully within the next week or so.

  • dynamicsch

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 2:27 pm PT

    I can't believe it's already been 37 years since 1989...

  • yellosnolvr

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 2:10 pm PT

    I hope its not some phony crap

  • Xanog1

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 2:04 pm PT

    Painkiller PSP?

    That's pretty crazy, now we might get an FPS on it that isn't completely broken.

  • jvonrader

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 2:04 pm PT

    Nokia's out of their #%!@ mind if they think they're ever going to succeed in the video game industry.

  • frankeyser

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 2:02 pm PT

    i want the lava pad lol. nice and hippy feeling =)

  • madgamer2000

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 2:00 pm PT

    lol. a lavalamp ps2 controller. what will they think of next!

  • vincentrulez

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 2:00 pm PT

    sweet

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