Activision announced its E3 line-up earlier today with, most excitingly for SPOnG, confirmation of two new Tony Hawk's titles on show - Project 8 for the PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, Xbox and PS2 and Downhill Jam for the Nintendo Wii, DS and GBA.
SPOnG will be waiting in line to meet the skateboarding god himself, and try to get him to sign our DVD copy of Powell Peralta classic, The Search for Animal Chin. Hawk is without a doubt the greatest sports celebrity to attend E3. If we are in luck we may even see him skate. SPOnG plans to stalk Hawk and, if we manage to collar him, ask him the best ways of doing a 720 or a McTwist. We've tried both in our time, but only a bruised coccyx and a broken ego resulted.
The new Nintendo version of Downhill Jam shifts the focus away from pulling improbable combos over to a focus on head-to-head racing down frighteningly steep terrain across San Francisco and Machu Picchu. It sounds like it's going back to the old school ‘80s days of downhilling. If you know what we are on about if we say Powell Peralta's other skate video classic Future Primitive, then you get the picture.
If not, we urge you to go and dig out both Animal Chin and Future Primitive – both recently re-released on DVD – to get a flavour of what skateboarding was like back when Tony Hawk was thirteen with teeth braces. We'll stop going on about this now, before we age ourselves any further. Back to the game, Downhill Jam will feature nine playable characters, time-based challenges and 'race', 'trick' and 'slalom' modes. We'll find out this week if the game has any interesting Wii-specific control features you should be aware of. We are sure it will have, so watch this space.
Tony Hawk's Project 8, sounds very much like the previous games, just better and on PS3 and Xbox 360. It will of course be an essential purchase this Christmas.
Activision has also confirmed two further launch titles for both the PS3 and Nintendo Wii - Call Of Duty 3 and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. And a load of other stuff, all listed in full below:
By Stefan Walters
SPOnG will be waiting in line to meet the skateboarding god himself, and try to get him to sign our DVD copy of Powell Peralta classic, The Search for Animal Chin. Hawk is without a doubt the greatest sports celebrity to attend E3. If we are in luck we may even see him skate. SPOnG plans to stalk Hawk and, if we manage to collar him, ask him the best ways of doing a 720 or a McTwist. We've tried both in our time, but only a bruised coccyx and a broken ego resulted.
The new Nintendo version of Downhill Jam shifts the focus away from pulling improbable combos over to a focus on head-to-head racing down frighteningly steep terrain across San Francisco and Machu Picchu. It sounds like it's going back to the old school ‘80s days of downhilling. If you know what we are on about if we say Powell Peralta's other skate video classic Future Primitive, then you get the picture.
If not, we urge you to go and dig out both Animal Chin and Future Primitive – both recently re-released on DVD – to get a flavour of what skateboarding was like back when Tony Hawk was thirteen with teeth braces. We'll stop going on about this now, before we age ourselves any further. Back to the game, Downhill Jam will feature nine playable characters, time-based challenges and 'race', 'trick' and 'slalom' modes. We'll find out this week if the game has any interesting Wii-specific control features you should be aware of. We are sure it will have, so watch this space.
Tony Hawk's Project 8, sounds very much like the previous games, just better and on PS3 and Xbox 360. It will of course be an essential purchase this Christmas.
Activision has also confirmed two further launch titles for both the PS3 and Nintendo Wii - Call Of Duty 3 and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. And a load of other stuff, all listed in full below:
Next-Generation Launch Titles:
Activision's PlayStation 3 system launch line-up will take advantage of the hardware's multi-core processing to deliver smoother, faster gaming experiences that will closely resemble feature film quality values. The company's launch games for Nintendo's Wii system will fully utilize the Wii's revolutionary freehand-style controller by offering more immersive gameplay.
"Call of Duty 3," the follow-up to the #1 next-generation game, delivers the intensity of being closer than ever to the fury of combat during the battle for the Liberation of Paris, the most harrowing campaign of WWII, known as The Normandy Breakout. Through a seamless narrative, "Call of Duty 3" delivers the rush of unrelenting battle and breathtaking action of the Allied offensive that changed the fate of the world. (PlayStation 3 system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii, Xbox, PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
"Marvel: Ultimate Alliance" is an all-new action/RPG that features over 140 Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains and the largest roster of comic book characters ever seen in a video game. Players get to create their Super Hero team from over 20 playable characters, including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Blade and Captain America, and through their actions determine the fate of both planet Earth and the Marvel Universe, which is revealed in one of several epilogues. (PlayStation 3 system, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PSPTM (PlayStation® Portable) system, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Windows PC; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
Designed and built exclusively for Nintendo's next-generation and handheld systems, "Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam" delivers a totally innovative and unique skateboard experience focused on head-to-head racing. The game allows players to feel the breakneck speed of downhill competition as they tear up the world's steepest terrains while performing tricks and outmaneuvering opponents in such locations as San Francisco, Machu Picchu and Hong Kong. Taking on the role of Tony Hawk or one of nine characters, players compete in time-based challenges in one of three gameplay modes, including race, trick and slalom. (Wii, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
Reengineered from the ground up for the PlayStation 3 system and Microsoft's Xbox 360, "Tony Hawk's Project 8" immerses players in the definitive skateboarding experience using ultra-realistic graphics, enhanced physics and extremely responsive controls that simulate the feeling of skating with every trick and bail. The game challenges players to experience the intensity and pressure of skating against some of the world's top pros in true to life competitions as they aim to become the #1 skater. (PlayStation 3 system, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PSP system; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
Powerhouse E3 Lineup:
Set to redefine online action gaming, id Software's "Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars" is the ultimate team- and objective-based multiplayer experience. Developed by Splash Damage and executive produced by id Software, the first person strategic action game is set within the epic "QUAKE®" universe in the year 2065 and pits the Allied troops of the Global Defense Force (GDF) against a new Axis of Evil - the barbaric and technologically advanced Strogg. Built on id Software's new MegaTextureTM rendering technology and featuring strategic team play, persistent character promotions and the universe's most powerful weapons and vehicles, "Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars" transports players to the frontlines of an epic new war for Earth. (Windows PC; not yet rated by the ESRB)
Building on "The MoviesTM'" critically acclaimed gameplay, "The Movies: Stunts & EffectsTM Expansion Pack" ups the ante on movie production with the addition of stuntmen, death-defying stunts and new stunt double characters; a new particle effects engine that lets players enhance their scenes with incredible visual effects, including fireball explosions, shattering glass, smoke and steam; an all-new "Freecam Mode" that allows players to adjust the camera location, angle, field of view and path to create truly unique movies; and the addition of new miniature sets that let players create dramatic sweeping angles. (Windows PC; summer; Rated "T" (Teen - Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Tobacco Violence) by the ESRB)
Based on DreamWorks Animation's upcoming film, "Over the HedgeTM" takes players on an all-new adventure beyond the movie as they assume the roles of RJ the raccoon, Verne the turtle, Hammy the squirrel and Stella the skunk and turn a suburban neighborhood loaded with dangerous obstacles and traps into their personal playground. (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and the PC have been rated E10+; Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS have been rated E by the ESRB; available on North American retail shelves May 9)
"X-Men: The Official Game" catapults players into an original storyline that serves as a prelude to Twentieth Century Fox and Marvel Studios' upcoming film, "X-Men: The Last Stand," and allows them to command the distinct powers of Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Iceman as they face off against formidable enemies, battle through massive environments and embark on an epic quest to save mutant-kind. (Rated "T" (Teen - violence) for Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and PC by the ESRB; Rated "E-10+" (Everyone 10 and older - fantasy violence) for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance) by the ESRB; available on North American retail shelves May 16)
Building on last year's #1 poker title and the #1 brand in poker, "World Series of Poker®: Tournament of Champions" takes a story-based approach, putting players on the Pro Circuit as a new pro and protege of Chris "Jesus" Ferguson. Players test their skills at the premier Circuit Events in hopes of qualifying for the winner-take-all, invitation-only Tournament of Champions at the Rio Resort in Las Vegas. Along the way, they face-off against more top pros than ever before, including Joseph Hachem, the 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion, and Jennifer Tilly, the Academy Award-nominated actress and World Series of Poker bracelet holder, among others in hopes of bringing home the Tournament of Champions trophy. (Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PC, PSP system; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
New Online Content:
Further expanding the experience of the #1 title for the Xbox 360, Activision will release four all new "Call of Duty 2" Xbox 360 multiplayer maps at E3 that unleash a blistering barrage of battle for gamers. The four maps will be available via Xbox Live® online game network. The Bonus Pack features two maps set in Germany and will be released for free, while the Skirmish Pack contains two additional maps set in Russia and France and will be sold for 400 Microsoft PointsTM through Xbox Live® Marketplace.
Activision's PlayStation 3 system launch line-up will take advantage of the hardware's multi-core processing to deliver smoother, faster gaming experiences that will closely resemble feature film quality values. The company's launch games for Nintendo's Wii system will fully utilize the Wii's revolutionary freehand-style controller by offering more immersive gameplay.
"Call of Duty 3," the follow-up to the #1 next-generation game, delivers the intensity of being closer than ever to the fury of combat during the battle for the Liberation of Paris, the most harrowing campaign of WWII, known as The Normandy Breakout. Through a seamless narrative, "Call of Duty 3" delivers the rush of unrelenting battle and breathtaking action of the Allied offensive that changed the fate of the world. (PlayStation 3 system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii, Xbox, PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
"Marvel: Ultimate Alliance" is an all-new action/RPG that features over 140 Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains and the largest roster of comic book characters ever seen in a video game. Players get to create their Super Hero team from over 20 playable characters, including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Blade and Captain America, and through their actions determine the fate of both planet Earth and the Marvel Universe, which is revealed in one of several epilogues. (PlayStation 3 system, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PSPTM (PlayStation® Portable) system, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Windows PC; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
Designed and built exclusively for Nintendo's next-generation and handheld systems, "Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam" delivers a totally innovative and unique skateboard experience focused on head-to-head racing. The game allows players to feel the breakneck speed of downhill competition as they tear up the world's steepest terrains while performing tricks and outmaneuvering opponents in such locations as San Francisco, Machu Picchu and Hong Kong. Taking on the role of Tony Hawk or one of nine characters, players compete in time-based challenges in one of three gameplay modes, including race, trick and slalom. (Wii, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
Reengineered from the ground up for the PlayStation 3 system and Microsoft's Xbox 360, "Tony Hawk's Project 8" immerses players in the definitive skateboarding experience using ultra-realistic graphics, enhanced physics and extremely responsive controls that simulate the feeling of skating with every trick and bail. The game challenges players to experience the intensity and pressure of skating against some of the world's top pros in true to life competitions as they aim to become the #1 skater. (PlayStation 3 system, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PSP system; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
Powerhouse E3 Lineup:
Set to redefine online action gaming, id Software's "Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars" is the ultimate team- and objective-based multiplayer experience. Developed by Splash Damage and executive produced by id Software, the first person strategic action game is set within the epic "QUAKE®" universe in the year 2065 and pits the Allied troops of the Global Defense Force (GDF) against a new Axis of Evil - the barbaric and technologically advanced Strogg. Built on id Software's new MegaTextureTM rendering technology and featuring strategic team play, persistent character promotions and the universe's most powerful weapons and vehicles, "Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars" transports players to the frontlines of an epic new war for Earth. (Windows PC; not yet rated by the ESRB)
Building on "The MoviesTM'" critically acclaimed gameplay, "The Movies: Stunts & EffectsTM Expansion Pack" ups the ante on movie production with the addition of stuntmen, death-defying stunts and new stunt double characters; a new particle effects engine that lets players enhance their scenes with incredible visual effects, including fireball explosions, shattering glass, smoke and steam; an all-new "Freecam Mode" that allows players to adjust the camera location, angle, field of view and path to create truly unique movies; and the addition of new miniature sets that let players create dramatic sweeping angles. (Windows PC; summer; Rated "T" (Teen - Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Tobacco Violence) by the ESRB)
Based on DreamWorks Animation's upcoming film, "Over the HedgeTM" takes players on an all-new adventure beyond the movie as they assume the roles of RJ the raccoon, Verne the turtle, Hammy the squirrel and Stella the skunk and turn a suburban neighborhood loaded with dangerous obstacles and traps into their personal playground. (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and the PC have been rated E10+; Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS have been rated E by the ESRB; available on North American retail shelves May 9)
"X-Men: The Official Game" catapults players into an original storyline that serves as a prelude to Twentieth Century Fox and Marvel Studios' upcoming film, "X-Men: The Last Stand," and allows them to command the distinct powers of Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Iceman as they face off against formidable enemies, battle through massive environments and embark on an epic quest to save mutant-kind. (Rated "T" (Teen - violence) for Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and PC by the ESRB; Rated "E-10+" (Everyone 10 and older - fantasy violence) for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance) by the ESRB; available on North American retail shelves May 16)
Building on last year's #1 poker title and the #1 brand in poker, "World Series of Poker®: Tournament of Champions" takes a story-based approach, putting players on the Pro Circuit as a new pro and protege of Chris "Jesus" Ferguson. Players test their skills at the premier Circuit Events in hopes of qualifying for the winner-take-all, invitation-only Tournament of Champions at the Rio Resort in Las Vegas. Along the way, they face-off against more top pros than ever before, including Joseph Hachem, the 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion, and Jennifer Tilly, the Academy Award-nominated actress and World Series of Poker bracelet holder, among others in hopes of bringing home the Tournament of Champions trophy. (Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PC, PSP system; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
New Online Content:
Further expanding the experience of the #1 title for the Xbox 360, Activision will release four all new "Call of Duty 2" Xbox 360 multiplayer maps at E3 that unleash a blistering barrage of battle for gamers. The four maps will be available via Xbox Live® online game network. The Bonus Pack features two maps set in Germany and will be released for free, while the Skirmish Pack contains two additional maps set in Russia and France and will be sold for 400 Microsoft PointsTM through Xbox Live® Marketplace.
By Stefan Walters
Companies:
Activision
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