GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

E3 2008: Take-Two event heads for the Borderlands

Grand Theft Auto publisher wows conference attendees with Gearbox's postapocalyptic shooter---first trailer inside! Exclusive DLC also coming for BioShock PS3.

119 Comments

At yesterday's Nintendo press event, one of the biggest surprises was the announcement of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, the ultraviolent franchise's debut on the Nintendo DS. Though its unveiling drew audible gasps, little was revealed about the game other than its logo. Early speculation pegged it as being a city-centric title in the vein of Vice City Stories for the PlayStation Portable, either set in Liberty City or San Fierro, the two metropolises in the GTA universe to have Chinatown districts.

While gamers want more details about the first GTA DS, the game industry would like larger answers about the company making it, Take-Two Interactive. The publisher has had a roller coaster year, enjoying both record-breaking sales of Grand Theft Auto IV and being the subject of a hostile takeover by EA. Those attending its press event at the Los Angeles Convention Center in LA this morning came for answers to those questions, and to learn about the company's plan for the future.

[10:49] Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick takes the stage right on time, immediately touting the fact that Grand Theft Auto IV was the "biggest entertainment launch in history."

[10:50] "We're investing in the future...with our creative team of 1,400 developers in 17 studios worldwide."

[10:52] "In an effort to produce the best in interactive entertainment, we encourage our developers to imagine," says Zelnick, who quickly hands over the podium to "the brains of the operation," Take-Two CEO and president Ben Feder.

[10:54] Feder cues a series of montages, beginning with 2K Sports. NBA 2K9, NHL 2K9, Top Spin 3, Don King's Prizefighter, Power Pros, and MLB 2K9 reel out. Then come two demos for the Xbox 360 NBA 2K9 and the Wii NHL 2K9, which aims "to bring the fun back to hockey."

[10:55] Now comes a demo of NHL 2K9, which is billed as a "complete reset" of the franchise. The Visual Concepts producer on hand says hockey games have become "too complicated."

[10:56] The game will have pick-up-and-play controls, "an all-new fighting engine," and will even let you drive the Zamboni between periods.

[10:57] It still is a hardcore hockey sim, he stresses, with a high level of detail. Apparently, if the crowd is very displeased with a team's performance, they will start throwing beer cups and other debris onto the ice.

[10:58] There's even an interactive Stanley Cup celebration mode which lets you party until dawn with your team.

[10:58] The hockey player demoing the game is showing how you push forward with the controllers to slam opponents against the boards.

[10:58] Now it's NBA 2K9 for the 360.

[10:59] NBA is the game "the pros are playing" and is the best-selling basketball game on the current generation of consoles.

[11:00] Once again, its a virtual rematch of the Lakers and the Celtics.

[11:01] The presenter says, "If you think you've seen online features, you ain't seen nothing yet." Do they have something to match NBA Live 09's Dynamic DNA?

[11:02] The Celtics start scoring, and some audience members groan. "I know we're in Los Angeles, but Kevin Garnett is our cover guy," jokes the VC producer.

[11:03] That's it for sports! Feder comes back to talk about the new casual game label 2K Play.

[11:04] Sarah Anderson, 2K's head of marketing, takes the stage.

[11:05] She talks about "building on our strategic partnership with Nickelodeon," and airs a TV ad for Carnival Games for Wii and DS.

[11:06] The games' developer is Cat Daddy, which is also working on a sequel, Carnival Games Mini-Golf for the Wii. Another TV ad talks about getting a "hole in fun!" Audible groans ensue.

[11:07] Anderson repeats the pun, getting some chuckles.

[11:08] Now she announces a new deal to bring Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer to the Wii and DS with Dora Saves the Snow Princess this fall.

[11:09] Feder pops back on stage and quickly talks about 2K Games. Apparently the initial run of Civilization Revolution has already sold out at US retailers, with 2K rushing to manufacture more.

[11:09] Cue a trailer for BioShock, which is coming to the PlayStation 3 this fall.

[11:10] Nice--a Borderlands trailer.

Gearbox's Borderlands is due out early next year.
Gearbox's Borderlands is due out early next year.

[11:10] The postapocalyptic game shows a lot of indoor and outdoor action, with highly detailed graphics and action.

[11:11] Mafia II is also shown off, with extremely realistic depictions of 1950s-era mobsters.

[11:11] Anderson's back, talking about Champions Online, 2K's first MMORPG. It's due next spring.

[11:13] Cue a trailer for Champions. The graphics are semi-cel-shaded, making it look and feel very much like an interactive comic book.

[11:13] 2K Marin's Melissa Maya Miller takes the stage to show off BioShock for the PS3.

[11:15] Miller talks about the level of effort it took to make BioShock, which drew on resources from all of 2K Games. She says the same effort is being taken with BioShock PS3, which has four studios working on it: 2K Marin, 2K Boston, 2K Australia, and Digital Extremes.

[11:17] New announcement: PS3 BioShock will have exclusive DLC, including new "challenge rooms" in Rapture.

[11:18] Now, Feder is back to talk about Borderlands, the postapocalyptic road-actioner and shooter. Randy Pitchford takes the stage and gives BioShock expressive praise.

Explosives are just one way to take care of baddies in Borderlands.
Explosives are just one way to take care of baddies in Borderlands.

[11:22] Now onto Borderlands, which takes place on the planet Pandora. The demo begins, with a driver class and a soldier class jumping into a vehicle and driving around the landscape. In a scrub desert area called the "barrens," two vehicles looking like Halo warthogs engage in a road battle before the two players--engaged in co-op mode--jump out and go into a dungeon-like iridium mine. The perspective switches from first to third person. The game will have an experience system similar to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, where the more you use a particular weapon, the easier it is to use.

Players'  skills with weapons such as the sniper rifle will improve with use, leading to bloodier and more spectacular deaths.
Players' skills with weapons such as the sniper rifle will improve with use, leading to bloodier and more spectacular deaths.

[11:24] After fighting off some hungry alien wildlife, the two players go deep into the mine, finding the bones of bandits eaten by monsters--and then excreted. They find guns in a locker, and emphasizes that no two guns in Borderlands are the same. They have an entire program which will randomly generate weapons with a variety of power-ups and extra features.

[11:26] A bloody battle with an underground bandit camp ensues, with the players' opponents meeting bloody ends. The visual style and gameplay looks like a cross of Halo 3 and Fallout 3, though the yellow-tinted guns look straight out of Haze.

[11:28] The guns are color-coded according to their abilities. Like Mass Effect, there will be wide array of ammo types, including guns that shoot acid. More bandits meet their ends, being either fried with electrical rounds or blown to pieces with shotguns. The game is looking just slightly less bloody that Gears of War.

In addition to vehicular combat on the planet Pandora's surface, players can go underground to uncover hidden bases.
In addition to vehicular combat on the planet Pandora's surface, players can go underground to uncover hidden bases.

[11:29] After an ambush cutscene, the demo ends. Huge applause. This game is gonna be massive.

[11:31] Now, it's on to Rockstar Games, and Feder name-checks Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, but only says "stay tuned for more information." Cue a montage of GTAIV, Bully, and L.A. Noire, which is apparently still in development.

[11:33] Now it's on to a Midnight Club: Los Angeles trailer. Shots of detailed street racing are accompanied by pumping techno from French DJ duo Justice.

[11:33] Zelnick's back and that's it, apparently.

[11:34] "We're dedicated to creating value for shareholders," says Zelnick. The words "Electronic Arts" were never mentioned.

[11:35] A final sizzle trailer flashes a title card for what looked like the new Red Dead Revolver and Sid Meier's Pirates! games. However, 2K Games has since clarified the footage was for prior games "in the 2K Games portfolio." A rep would neither confirm nor deny new games in both series are in the works.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 119 comments about this story
119 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for Jazz_Fan
Jazz_Fan

29516

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

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

Upvote • 
Avatar image for tawagivercetti
tawagivercetti

575

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

Take 2 games sh#t on EA's tripe

Upvote • 
Avatar image for AEZAC
AEZAC

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

Screens for GTA?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bguy9
bguy9

2565

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 23

User Lists: 0

Why still nothing about DLC for GTA4? WTF!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ps3thabest
ps3thabest

524

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@pourya_ahmadian what do u mean poor black fanboys im black and i always buy games so kill yourself

Upvote • 
Avatar image for necronaux
necronaux

954

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 14

User Lists: 0

Borderland looks cool. I'd like to see screenshots for the GTA on DS.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for leofiregod
leofiregod

2084

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 15

User Lists: 0

I love take 2's games

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ognen
ognen

2974

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 26

User Lists: 0

looks cool

Upvote • 
Avatar image for godzillavskong
godzillavskong

7904

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 20

User Lists: 0

Looks nice. Too many good games and not enough $.Not to mention dividing your time to play all these great titles coming out. I thought this years E3 was pretty good.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for RoboRooster
RoboRooster

32

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Dora the Explorer? I can't freakin' wait. :( At least we got a GTA on DS. And Borderlands sounds pretty amazing.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ps3thabest
ps3thabest

524

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Viral-venom13 i agree where the hell is max payne 3

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ps3thabest
ps3thabest

524

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@tawagivercetti sony didnt pull out its for 360 and ps3

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ps3thabest
ps3thabest

524

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@tawagivercetti we got better games coming for ps3 la noire looks good but i wouldnt put it up against imfamous

Upvote • 
Avatar image for tawagivercetti
tawagivercetti

575

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

Any GTA news is good news....I hope gta is bundled with a special ds. San Andreas Stories for PSP would've been nicer. btw LA Noire (GTA in 1940's) by Rockstar is now an XBOX 360 exclusive! Sony pulled out apparently, losers.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TehFuneral
TehFuneral

8237

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Way to go EA!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Macgyver40
Macgyver40

13159

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Ea rocks

Upvote • 
Avatar image for aduana69
aduana69

466

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 29

User Lists: 0

cool EA

Upvote • 
Avatar image for cooldude03
cooldude03

442

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

YES!!! It's E3 and no EA buyout announcement to ruin the event.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for halosniper52
halosniper52

1199

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

"PS3 BioShock will have exclusive DLC" ooooo take that MS lol.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for -E-N-E-M-Y-
-E-N-E-M-Y-

392

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I've been waiting for this game since it's been announced. Can't wait for more information about it.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for lettuceman44
lettuceman44

7971

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 23

User Lists: 0

Lol Star77241.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for star77241
star77241

284

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

If you bring Dora to the Wii I will kill you. Please bring it to the other platforms first.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for rocket9434
rocket9434

2665

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Bioshock for the PS3, can't wait!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for 88jim8814
88jim8814

36

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Yaaaaa, a challenge room?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ShadowOfKratos
ShadowOfKratos

468

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

okassar, I've been getting most (and usually the best) of the "so called" exclusives for the 360 on my PC, most of them are shooters, and play best with a mouse & keyboard anyway... but you know in a way, I wish I could say the same about the PS3 though... that way I would have the best of the heavyweight systems in one machine... but...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for grambyte
grambyte

3677

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

I wonder if they're already planning for Bioshock 5. :S I know that 3 is already in their thought so I wonder how far it reaches... :P

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Nekromenos
Nekromenos

199

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Since I've lost hope in experiencing 2K's sport games on PC, I'm eagerly awaiting the Mafia II release.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for WizengamotX
WizengamotX

4548

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Oh well I'd like to see alot more of Mafia II.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jakeboudville
jakeboudville

90576

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Damn, that borderlands sure look good

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Magusi
Magusi

369

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

to okassar_ Umm ... did you notice that all the games (save 2) were multi-plats in MS's conference? So I was able to enjoy it as a PS3 owner. So I am assuming you didn't notice that the Sony Con. was mostly exclusives? I don't understand the blindness that people seem to have. It's as if they don't want to except what's right in front of them.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Pete5506
Pete5506

10112

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 39

User Lists: 0

I have bioshock for the 360, but I might rent it for the PS3 to see some of the new stuff

Upvote • 
Avatar image for guilhem_r
guilhem_r

473

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Bring the fun back to hockey? The fun of hockey hadn't disappeared, it had just moved to EA. Curious about how NHL 2K9 will turn out. Didn't expect this type of minigames.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for quadrimohi
quadrimohi

39

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Bioshock is a great game and a must buy for a 360,PS3, or PC owner, don't miss out !!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for dantesergei
dantesergei

2254

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

Bioshock is great im happy it came to the PS3, and with new things !!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for hardcorps1110
hardcorps1110

115

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

NHL 2k9 doesn't sound to good. I guess I'll try to remain open minded but pick up and play controls normally means dumbed down. EA put "NHL 94" controls and the new skill stick + advanced controls.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Jaz0
Jaz0

89

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

lol

Upvote • 
Avatar image for combatsoldier
combatsoldier

7607

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 114

User Lists: 0

oh my goodness. Fanboys drive me crazy. Stop starting flame wars and stick to the topic.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for kaziechameleon
kaziechameleon

1166

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 33

User Lists: 0

border lands looks sweat.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Thorpe89
Thorpe89

16905

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 52

User Lists: 0

It sure does look awesome. 8)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Hungry_bunny
Hungry_bunny

14293

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Hmm, it feels like some things are missing...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Hokkie
Hokkie

176

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Borderlands=win. Something all should enjoy

Upvote • 
Avatar image for okassar
okassar

2392

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I have to admit I'm a 360 fanboy for a lot of reasons,it just suits me better.I'm looking for good online good games and good graphics.That puts the Wii out of the equation and the PS3,because of its Bluray,as a possible buy.But here's the thing,I won't buy the PS3 until it gets good exclusive games because I won't buy it just for the Blu-ray,Blu-ray players (standalone) are getting much cheaper as we get close to the holiday season.The PS3 has a history of trying to pass and failing miserably in a lot of ways.This holiday season I don't see anything special...and as the 360 is getting even better as we saw with the E3 Microsoft Conference and there might even be a Blu-ray peripheral for 360,I might never end up buying the PS3...it's a great system with a company that failed to sign it up for more promising games and failed to provide a good development kit to the developers and failed at making an online service even close to that of Microsoft's..I could go on and on,it's Sony's fault.They thought they could make a good system and forget about everything else and expect it to do good.At least they're trying now,with Home and all...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for PS2Dude89
PS2Dude89

1747

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Borderlands looks awesome! I can't wait for that game!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Gamer4Iife
Gamer4Iife

6010

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Can't wait for some GTA China Town gameplay. Here's hoping it won't be as bad as GTA Advance.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ChickenHounk911
ChickenHounk911

685

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

To me "exclusive content" now just means.... "for a while, until they cought up some good money" so I'm not worried.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for KOTORkicker
KOTORkicker

4595

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

Borderlands looks really good....

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TXMostWanted
TXMostWanted

737

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 25

User Lists: 0

GTA DS? Really...this will be interesting. As for exclusive content for Bioshock, now I see that the determining factor for buying games. It's not about which system its for, but rather which is getting the exp. packs as well as if achievements/trophies really matter

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Grende1
Grende1

182

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@ 2headedhawiian Sorry man, your information is incorrect. The 360 does support dedicated servers and they're used on serveral games. Frontlines is a recent example. Also, just because it's a dedicated server does not mean lag is eliminated. It depends on the quality of the server.

Upvote •