4:42pm  Show kisk off with some gameplay and cut-scenes from John Woo's Stranglehold!

Mike Bilder - Chicago Studio Head - Presenting Stranglehold

John Woo is one of best action directors of all time and we're bringin that action to the screen.  Downloadable DEMO COMING next month for PC, X360 and PS3!  w00t!

MP modes will include DM and TDM - PS3 owners get Hard Boiled movie and the game on a single Blu-Ray disc!

Core concept of games is players using environment - sliding down rails, jumping behind cover etc.  Another factor is something they call massive D - D= damage or didn't ya know?

Trailer PLays

Shows off gun fight in a car park - glass flys everywhere - alongside the bullets.  And the cars fall apart in real time and ultimately catch on fire.  Bullet time mode is featured - couldn't be a JOhn Woo game without that!

Emerging from bullet time mode is very similar to that from F.E.A.R. by Vivendi and Monolith.

Shoots down statues to trigger laser mines and progress.  Pretty cool - but kinda simple puzzle.  Does nicely show off environmental destruction or ahem- massive D - sigh

Enemy AI seems a bit silly as they all run straight out of cover to shoot you in the face.  Um...cover guys - cover.  Bullets hurt!

Chow dodges bullets like Neo!  WTF - that looks kinda awesome but wow - a bit out of the realm?  Or is Chow that awesome?  You make the call

Finale shows off Chow taking down a Black Hawk!?!?  The guy standing on the runners hlding a 50.cal doesn't seem to be phased by the large volume of lead flowing through his body.

Demo Ends


Midway has spent the last year working on a system  - cross-platform and cross-location that allows the studios to all share tech and assets.  This system has apparenlty helped the company to develop games like Stranglehold, Blacksite: Area 51 and The Wheelman.

LOTRO is off to a flying start.  #1 game in April - more updates are coming - they're on chapter 9 as I know it.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro Am announced!  Scheduled release in Oct - for Ps2 Exclusively - Combat Golf racing game?? Wha huh?

TNA Wrestling announced - for X360, PS3, Wii ad PS2.  Will be the "most authentic wrestling ever" - um....and supposedly there will be a lot of TNA.  Right ?

The Wheelman - ultimate car chase game with fast action and death defying stunts - more info this summer.


Five title exclusively for Wii:
Cruisin'
Game Party
Ultimate MOrtal Kombat
The Bee Game
Imagination Invaders


4:56pm  Blacksite : Area 51 Trailer Plays
Game kicks off in the Middle-East with normal warfare - until the aliens begin popping up.  The game ultimately comes back stateside to wrap it up in Roswell - ahem

Harvey Smight, Creative Dir - Blacksite

You are Aaron Pierce - veteran from Iraq war.  From Iraq to small town America to underground facility.  We'll be showing off PC and PS3 versions soon - X360 version showing now at E3.

Releasing a new DEMO in August.  E3 demo highlights vehicles, destructible environment and one button squad command - as well as AI morale that controls moods of squad based on players success.

Primary goal is polish - wanted to create a violent thrill-ride.  We're also working on MP and Co-Op which we'll be talking about today.

Other modes will be revealed closer to launch.

Video plays showing off squad command and AI morale.

Squad use is intuitive, fast-paced - easy to use.  There is a morale system that will drive their combat based on how you're doing.  We wanted to make them as easy to use as a camera or gun.  We wanted to avoid menus and constant orders.  Instead we dedicated a button that is contextually sensitive.  Point at a fence, objective or enemy and the squad will know what to do.

Gears of War writer - Susan O'Conner - working on story for Blacksite.

Wanted to create the sense that the squad had all worked together forever. 

[Harvey introduces key characters - two guys and one woman]

Squad mates will flow in and out of your orbit.  All three will get into interesting arguments with each other.  Of course - you can't add to that conversation can you?

Morale system will have no meters on screen but they will comment, they also have facial features or movements that will indicate how they are feeling.  Your performance will directly affect how effective they play and operate.

Video Ends


5:05 - Marc Rein from Epic  - Unreal Tournament III
Yes - it will be on PC and PS3 this November

UT3 will come with the best toolset ever  - Yep MOD makers - you'll get your hands on the same tools the Gears team used.  You'll also be able to share your MODs online with the community!

Clip of UT3 plays

A huge Half-Life-ish walker is shown as a usable vehicle - environments are huge and expansive.  A skateboard like hovercraft is also shown!  It's like UT 2004 kicked up a notch

Um...and yeah - that's it folks.  Wow.  That was brief.