E3 2003: Game of Show

[BoneStormer]

I thought I'd start a post for THIS year's E3 'winners' (unlike that post from last year a few, umm, suckers mistook for this years winners).

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Game Informer Top 10 Games of E3 2003

1) Half-Life 2 - Game of the Show
Publisher: Vivendi Universal
Developer: Valve
Platform: PC/Xbox

2) Halo 2
Publisher: Microsoft Games
Developer: Bungie
Platform: Xbox

3) Doom 3
Publisher: Activision
Developer: id Softwave
Platform: PC/Xbox

4) Gran Turismo 4
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Platform: PlayStation 2

5) Fable
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Big Blue Box
Platform: Xbox

6) Tony Hawk's Underground
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Neversoft
Platform: PC/Xbox

7) Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Publisher: Konami
Developer: KCEJ
Platform: PlayStation 2

8) The Sims 2
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Maxis
Platform: PC

9) SSX 3
Publisher: EA Big
Developer: EA Canada
Platform: Xbox/GameCube/PlayStation 2

10) Mario Kart: Double Dash
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Platform: GameCube

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TechTV's X-Play's Picks

Best GameCube game: F-Zero GX
Runner-ups: Mario Kart: Double Dash, Star Wars: Rogue Leader III: Rebel Strike, and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes.

Best Xbox game: Halo 2
Runner-ups: Dino Crisis 3, Counterstrike, and Project Gotham Racing 2.

Best PS2 games: EA’s online sports lineup
Runner-ups: Gran Turismo 4, Maximo: The Army of Zin, and Star Ocean 3: Till the End of Time.

Best PC game: Half Life 2
Runner-ups: Dues Ex: Invisible War, Call of Duty, Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines.

Best multiplatform game: XIII
Runner-ups: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King, and Beyond Good & Evil.

Best original game: Beyond Good and Evil
Runner-ups: Viewtiful Joe, Boktai, and Geist

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More as they come in! ...and here we go already!

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GameSpy's Best of E3

#25 - CIMA: The Enemy (GBA)
#24 - Halo (PC)
#23 - The Movies (PC)
#22 - X-Men: Legends (GCN/PS2/Xbox)
#21 - The Sims 2 (PC)
#20 - Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (PC)
#19 - StarCraft: Ghost (GCN/PS2/Xbox)
#18 - Top Spin (Xbox)
#17 - Fire Emblem: The Sword of Fire (GBA)
#16 - Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN)
#15 - Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (GCN)
#14 - Tony Hawk Underground (PS2/Xbox/GCN)
#13 - Spider-Man 2 (PS2/Xbox/GCN/PC)
#12 - Evil Genius (PC)
#11 - Maximo vs. Army of Zin (PS2)
#10 - Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike (GCN)
#9 - Middle Earth Online
#8 - True Fantasy Live Online (Xbox)
#7 - Gradius V (PS2)
#6 - Need For Speed Underground (PS2/Xbox/GCN/PC)
#5 - Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth (Xbox/PC)
#4 - Rome: Total War (PC)
#3 - Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (GBA/GCN/PS2/Xbox/PC)
#2 - Halo 2 (Xbox)
#1 - Half-Life 2 (PC)

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Edited by: BoneStormer  at: 5/23/03 12:36:45 am

[BoneStormer]

-= IGN =-

GameCube

Best GameCube Game
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Runners-up: Viewtiful Joe, F-Zero GX

Best GameCube Adventure Game
Sphinx and the Shadow of Set
Runners-up: Beyond Good and Evil, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords

Best GameCube Action/Platform Game
Viewtiful Joe
Runners-up: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Best GameCube Shooter Game
Metal Arms: Glitch in the System
Runners-up: Geist

Best GameCube Extreme Sports Game
Tony Hawk's Underground
Runners-up: SSX 3, 1080º Avalanche

Best GameCube Sports/Wrestling Game
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
Runners-up: Madden NFL 2004, WWE WrestleMania XIX

Best GameCube Racing Game
F-Zero GX
Runners-up: Mario Kart Double Dash!!, XGRA

Best GameCube Role-Playing Game
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Runners-up: Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life

Best GameCube Graphics
Resident Evil 4
Runners-up: F-Zero GX, Soul Calibur II

Best GameCube Sound
Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
Runners-up: Viewtiful Joe, F-Zero GX

Best GameCube Hardware
Game Boy Player

PlayStation 2

Best Presentation
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Runner-up: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Best Design
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Runner-up: Ratchet: Going Commando

Best Innovation
Tony Hawk's Underground
Runner-up: Magic Pengel: The Quest for Color

Best Graphics
Gran Turismo 4
Runner-up: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Biggest Surprise
Sony PSP
Runner-up: New Model PS2 with Network Adapter

Best Online/Networked Game
Final Fantasy XI
Runner-up: SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals 2

Best Action Game
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Runner-up: Spider-Man 2

Best Adventure Game
Resident Evil Outbreak
Runner-up: Beyond Good & Evil

Best Racing Game
Gran Turismo 4
Runner-up: Need for Speed Underground

Best Fighting Game
Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution
Runner-up: Soul Calibur 2

Best Platform Game
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Runner-up: Ratchet: Going Commando

Best Sports Game
Madden 2004
Runner-up: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004

Best Extreme Sports Game
Tony Hawk's Underground
Runner-up: SSX3

Best Simulation
Gran Turismo 4
Runner-up: Reel Fishing III

Best Role-Playing Game
Drakengard
Runner-up: Star Ocean: Till the End of Time

Best Overall Game
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Runner-up: Gran Turismo 4

Xbox

Best Non-Playable Demo:
Tony Hawk's Underground --Activision
Runner-Up: Breakdown --Namco

Best Graphics:
Halo 2 --Microsoft
Runner-Up: Ninja Gaiden --Tecmo

Biggest Surprise:
Fable has a multiplayer co-op mode! --Microsoft
Runner-Up: Conker Live and Uncut is playable! --Microsoft

Technological Excellence:
Halo 2 --Microsoft
Runner-Up: Fable --Microsoft

Most Innovative Design:
Full Spectrum Warrior --THQ
Runner-Up: B.C. --Microsoft

Best Xbox Live Title:
Crimson Skies --Microsoft
Runner-Up: Steel Battalion: Line of Contact --Capcom

Best Action/Adventure Game:
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time --Ubi Soft
Runner-Up: Ninja Gaiden --Tecmo

Best Shooter:
Halo 2 --Microsoft
Runner-Up: Medal of Honor: Rising Sun --EA

Best Racing Game:
Project Gotham Racing 2 --Microsoft
Runner-Up: NASCAR Thunder 2004 --EA

Best Role-Playing Game:
Fable --Microsoft
Runner-Up:True Fantasy Live Online --Microsoft

Best Sports Game:
Madden NFL 2004 --EA
Runner-Up: NCAA Football 2004 --EA

Best Xbox Game of E3:
Halo 2 --Microsoft
Runner-Up: Fable --Microsoft

Edited by: BoneStormer  at: 5/23/03 12:32:12 pm

[nbrid]

Gradius V #7 eh? Rated higher than Mario Kart you say? Sounds splendid! I wonder what Mario Kart's rating would have been if it wasnt playable like numerous games on that list. I'd say it would jump about 10 spots.

[BoneStormer]

It is odd so many non-playable games are ranked so high. I blame the realativly lackluster playable games. That or the crack they pump into the movie booths. The only real concensis is that both Half-Life 2 and Halo 2 should live up to their hype. Other then that, then it comes down to the type of games you personally like, and waiting for the year to hit 2004.

Get out, and take your Sacagawea dollars with you! I'll give you 'til three. One!

[BoneStormer]

GameSpot finally chimes in with their picks:

PC
10. Far Cry
9. Theif III
8. Evil Genius
7. Call of Duty
6. Middle-Earth Online
5. Rome: Total War
4. Commandos 3: Destination Berlin
3. Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
2. Halo: Combat Evolved
1. Half-Life 2

Xbox
5. True Fantasy Live Online
4. True Crimes: Streets of LA
3. Fable
2. Ninja Gaiden
1. Halo 2

PS2
5. SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs
4. Gradius V
3. True Crime: Streets of LA
2. Gran Turismo 4
1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

GC
5. Pac-man
4. Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
3. Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
2. Viewtiful Joe
1. F-Zero GX

GBA
5. Metroid: Zero Mission
4. Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand
3. Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising
2. Fire Emblem
1. Mario & Luigi


Biggest Surprise: Sony's PSP

Game of Show: Half-Life 2

[nbrid]

I find it odd that Square didnt have any games mentioned. Also odd is the matter of Pacman on the list. Did they play a different game?

[Ando666]

I knew the last one was from last year. Kind of obvious since it said 2002 in the title.

Mario Kart: DD... with online shit being spread around everywhere, might be the game I finally pick up a GCN for.

SOCOM 2... greatest game ever and I havent even played it.

Halo 2 looks absolutely amazing. Blows the Half-Life 2 video away imho. Makes every other game I've seen look like an NES game.

But HL2 still wins PC to me.. because it's the only PC game I looked into.

There you go... the most important list of all.

Edited by: Ando666  at: 5/27/03 7:28:54 pm

[BoneStormer]

Don't worry... I was really thinking of the countless others who made the mistake in IM...

I'll believe any online component for MKDD when I see it. They say where there's smoke there's usually a fire... but there have been a LOT of (false) rumors about Nintendo over the past several months.

I don't know. From the vids I saw of HL2 and Halo 2 I wouldn't say Halo 2 'blows HL2 away', in terms of the actual gameplay footage. Both look great though. And both are sure to be must haves. Maybe it's a good thing HL2 comes out this year and Halo 2 next.

Get out, and take your Sacagawea dollars with you! I'll give you 'til three. One!

Edited by: BoneStormer  at: 5/28/03 12:45:55 am

[BoneStormer]

Here are the 'official' nominees for E3's Game of Show (winners announced June 10):

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Best of Show

Full Spectrum Warrior (Pandemic/THQ for Xbox)
Gran Turismo 4 (Polyphony Digital/Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 2)
Half-Life 2 (Valve/Vivendi Universal Games for PC)
Halo 2 (Bungie/Microsoft for Xbox)
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (UbiSoft for All Platforms)

Best Original Game

Boktai (Konami for Game Boy Advance)
Evil Genius (Elixir Studios/Vivendi Universal Games for PC)
Fable (Big Blue Box/Microsoft for Xbox)
Full Spectrum Warrior (Pandemic/THQ for Xbox)
The Movies (Lionhead Studios/Activision for PC)

Best PC Game

Call of Duty (Infinity Ward/Activision for PC)
Deus Ex: Invisible War (Ion Storm/Eidos for PC/Xbox)
Half-Life 2 (Valve/Vivendi Universal Games for PC)
Halo PC (Gearbox/Bungie/Microsoft for PC)
Sims 2 (Maxis/Electronic Arts for PC)

Best Console Game

Fable (Big Blue Box/Microsoft for Xbox)
Full Spectrum Warrior (Pandemic/THQ for Xbox)
Gran Turismo 4 (Polyphony Digital/Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 2)
Halo 2 (Bungie/Microsoft for Xbox)
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (UbiSoft for All Platforms)

Best Peripheral / Hardware

Driving Force Pro (Logitech for PlayStation 2)
EyeToy (Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 2)
GeForce FX 5900 (Nvidia for PC)
Helix Gaming Device (Tapwave)
Radeon 9800 (ATI for PC)

Best Action Game

Call of Duty (Infinity Ward/Activision for PC)
Half-Life 2 (Valve/Vivendi Universal Games for PC)
Halo 2 (Bungie/Microsoft for Xbox)
Medal of Honor: Rising Sun (Electronic Arts for All Console Systems)
Unreal Tournament 2004 (Epic Games/Infogrames for PC)

Best Action/Adventure Game

Jak II (Naughty Dog/Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 2)
Ninja Gaiden (Tecmo for Xbox)
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (UbiSoft for All Platforms)
Starcraft: Ghost (Blizzard/Vivendi Universal Games for All Console Systems)
Viewtiful Joe (Capcom for GameCube)

Best Fighting Game

Dead or Alive: Online (Tecmo for Xbox)
Onimusha Blade Warriors (Capcom for PlayStation 2)
Soul Calibur II (Namco for All Console Systems)
Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution (Sega for PlayStation 2)

Best Role Playing Game

Deus Ex: Invisible War (Ion Storm/Eidos for PC/Xbox)
Fable (Big Blue Box/Microsoft for Xbox)
Final Fantasy X-2 (Square-Enix for PlayStation 2)
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic (BioWare/LucasArts for PC/Xbox)
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (Troika Games/Activision for PC)

Best Racing Game

F-Zero GX (Amusement Vision/Nintendo for GameCube)
Gran Turismo 4 (Polyphony Digital/Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 2)
Need for Speed Underground (Electronic Arts for All Platforms)
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (Nintendo for GameCube)
Project Gotham Racing 2 (Bizarre Creations/Microsoft for Xbox)

Best Simulation Game

Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight (Microsoft for PC)
Full Spectrum Warrior (Pandemic/THQ for Xbox)
Secret Weapons over Normandy (Totally Games/LucasArts for PC/PS2/Xbox)
Sims 2 (Maxis/Electronic Arts for PC)
The Movies (Lionhead Studios/Activision for PC)

Best Sports Game

Amped 2 (Microsoft for Xbox)
Madden NFL 2004 (Electronic Arts for All Platforms)
NFL 2K4 (Visual Concepts/Sega for PS2/Xbox)
SSX 3 (Electronic Arts for All Console Platforms)
Tony Hawk's Underground (Neversoft/Activision for All Console Platforms)

Best Strategy Game

Evil Genius (Elixir Studios/Vivendi Universal Games for PC)
Homeworld 2 (Relic/Vivendi Universal Games for PC)
Pikmin 2 (Nintendo for GameCube)
Rise of Nations (Big Huge Games/Microsoft for PC)
Rome: Total War (Creative Assembly/Activision for PC)

Best Puzzle/Trivia/Parlor Game

The EyeToy Games (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for PlayStation 2)
Karaoke Revolution (Harmonix/Konami for PlayStation 2)
Mario Party 5 (Nintendo for GameCube)
Nintendo Puzzle Collection (Nintendo for GameCube)
Xbox Music Mixer (Microsoft for Xbox)

Best Multiplayer Online

City of Heroes (Cryptic Studios/NCSoft for PC)
EverQuest II (Sony Online for PC)
Final Fantasy XI (Square Enix for PC/PlayStation 2)
Mythica (Microsoft for PC)
Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided (Sony Online/LucasArts for PC)
World of Warcraft (Blizzard/Vivendi Universal Games for PC)

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I got this from, gasp, PGC. I mention that because I love one of their responces to this list.

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Once again, the lists are dominated by video-only games. That's it, I no longer care what these guys say is the best. Games are meant to be played, and if you can't play a game, you can't say whether it's good or not. Screw these awards.

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He has a point, but... a little bitter that so few GC games were nominated?

Edited by: BoneStormer  at: 5/28/03 12:56:26 am

[nbrid]

Yeah what moron would get confused with that other E3 thread? Obviously all the guys that work for PGC love Nintendo so you're going to get some fanboyism in some responses. Though I think anyone can agree that video-only games shouldnt count. That's why I like EGM's E3 recap, they dont give any "awards" to the videos. Im sure if Metroid Prime 2 was shown to more of an extent, it would be on some list too.

[BoneStormer]

I really hope they don't fuck up Metroid Prime 2. Not that I think they will, I just hope the don't. MP still stands as the best game on GC, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Things for MP2:

1) Give us options for GE/Turok style controls for those who want them.
2) Come up with some new items/weapons instead of just classic Metroid stuff.
3) Find a way to bring back the Screw Attack!
4) Reduce the amount of back-tracking.
5) We got Ridley, now it's Kraid's turn.
6) Return the morph ball's powers. Like the spring jump and multi-bomb jumping.
7) Better story.
8) Include Super Metroid (or that GB Metroid), but to unlock it you beat the game (not some GBA shit).
9) Avoid the temptation to add multiplayer! (Unless some cool online co-op mode.)
10) Sorry I forgot 10, I was out spoiling my liver...

Get out, and take your Sacagawea dollars with you! I'll give you 'til three. One!

[nbrid]

I agree with your list, though Metroid games never had much of an involved storyline. I think Metroid Prime's storyline was great, but it was mostly the scans of computers and chozo lore that provided a back story. In this age of next gen gaming, an epic game like Metroid Prime 2 SHOULD have a story. Though Nintendo is so set on not giving its mascots any real dialogue or voice.

Also I REALLY want MP2 to be Metroid 5, the continuation from Metroid Fusion. How many backstories can you have? Metroid: Zero Mission is a remake of the NES game, albeit with lots of new features. MP2 should continue on the planet where the space colony crash landed and follow Samus' persuit of destroying all the SA-X's and that certain...thing that was seen at the end of Prime (if you got 100%). If its between the storyline of Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion...I guess that would be the 2nd best situation.

[BoneStormer]

This was voted on by a number of journalists to E3 from a wide range of publications, not all gaming specfic (IGN, EGM, PSM, GameSpot, GamePro, Newsweek, C&G, CGW, UGO, GameSpy, Rolling Stone, LA Times, Entertainment Weekly, Extended Play (now X Play), G4, USA Today, Time, and many more). So it should be a good feel of what was shown at E3.


Best of Show: Half-Life 2
(Valve LLC/Vivendi Universal Games for PC)

Best Original Game: Full Spectrum Warrior
(Pandemic Studios/THQ for Xbox/PC)

Best PC Game: Half-Life 2
(Valve LLC/Vivendi Universal Games for PC)

Best Console Game: Halo 2
(Bungie Studios/Microsoft for Xbox)

Best Peripheral/Hardware: EyeToy
(Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 2)

Best Action Game: Half-Life 2
(Valve LLC/Vivendi Universal Games for PC)

Best Action/Adventure Game: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
(UbiSoft Montreal/UbiSoft for All Game Systems)

Best Fighting Game: Soul Calibur 2
(Namco for All Console Systems)

Best Role Playing Game: Fable
(Big Blue Box/Microsoft for Xbox)

Best Racing Game: Gran Turismo 4
(Polyphony Digital/Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 2)

Best Simulation Game: Full Spectrum Warrior
(Pandemic Studios/THQ for Xbox/PC)

Best Sports Game: Tony Hawk's Underground
(Neversoft/Activision for All Console Platforms)

Best Strategy Game: Rome: Total War
(Creative Assembly/Activision for PC)

Best Puzzle/Trivia/Parlor Game: The EyeToy Games
(Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for PlayStation 2)

Best Online Multiplayer: City of Heroes
(Cryptic Studios/NCSoft for PC)

Special Commendation for Graphics: Half-Life 2
(Valve LLC/Vivendi Universal Games for PC)



Fast Facts on the Winners

Games With Multiple Wins

Four Wins: Half-Life 2
Two Wins: EyeToy (and the EyeToy Games), Full Spectrum Warrior

Publishers Breakdown By # of Wins

4 Wins: Vivendi-Universal Games
3 Wins: Sony Computer Entertainment
2 Wins: Activision, Microsoft, THQ
1 Win: Namco, NCSoft, UbiSoft

Win Breakdown by Platform (Note: Multiplatform games are counted in all appropriate platform tallies. Information based on announced platforms for each game.)

PC -- 9
Xbox -- 7
PS2 -- 6
GameCube -- 3
GameBoy -- 1


www.e3awards.com/win.html

Get out, and take your Sacagawea dollars with you! I'll give you 'til three. One!

[ConnDestn]

Half LIfe 2 is gonna freakin rock!!

[klamkilla]

Oh Boner... You and your wacky Alkaline Trio refrences... Now, if only you got on the trolley two years ago when I wouldn't shut up about them...