Gaming Official E3 GameCube/GBA News and Whatever Else Thread (Note: Image Heavy)

[Semjaza]

Instead of making 10 threads about each game, I'm just doing one. Feel free to post any news or screens or whatever you find in here as well. Just try to leave a source (a link or something at least), I'd appreciate it.

E3 hasn't started yet... although Capcom already had a conference, and the MS one is starting soon tonight. Sony and Nintendo's conferences are tomorrow, and E3 itself starts the day after that.

[b][u]Sega[/b][/u]

A few games worth mentioning. The first would be the next Sonic game, [b]Sonic Heroes[/b]. For whatever reason, Sonic Team is putting this on PS2 and Xbox as well, despite GC getting all the previous Sonic games exclusively.

You play as all 3 characters, apparently at once judging from the shots. You have to switch between them to do certain tasks. The game doesn't look mindblowing, but is obviously improved over the past DC Sonic games. It also reminds me more of some of the Genesis levels graphically.

---removed pics, sorry ---

Sonic Team's [b]Billy Hatcher[/b] will also be shown. Some sites already have hands on impressions on it, and so far they've been very positive. The game sounds pretty interesting. A guy named Kikizo posted these impressions at Gaming-Age, they are on his gaming site - [url]http://games.kikizo.com/news/200305/029.asp[/url] There is a movie at IGN that's also worth seeing. I am not sure if you need Insider or not though. The game will be on the GC demo disc that's supposedly going to be in stores May 20th.

[IMG]http://games.kikizo.com/media/bhge_new/14.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://games.kikizo.com/media/bhge_new/15.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://games.kikizo.com/media/bhge_new/06.jpg[/IMG]

Also, [b]Knight n Knight[/b] was apparently announced according to Magic Box. It is the sequel to the Clockwork Knight games on Saturn. They also claim [b]Super Monkey Ball 3[/b] was announced, and will feature LAN play. [b]PSO Episode III: CARD Battle[/b] will also be shown, and it's coming along. Nothing really exciting to say that's not been seen though.

[img]http://www.tothegame.com/screens/gcn_phantasystaronline3/2003-05-12/screen6_large.jpg[/img]

[b][u]Capcom[/b][/u]

The Capcom 5 are apparently are all still on track. PN03 is obviously out in Japan now, and should be here soon. [b]Viewtiful Joe[/b] is still on track and should be playable. [b]Killer 7[/b] is still coming along, but they won't say if it's exclusive or not. It will be shown in video form at E3. [b]Dead Phoenix[/b] is also confirmed by Capcom to still be in development, but they say there is nothing new to show.

[b]RE4[/b] is still exclusive, despite what IGNCube is saying (they read the statement incorrectly). It's not expected until early next year though, sadly. IGN says it will be shown at the show with a new video.

A new game that was recently announced is [b]Gotcha Force[/b]. It sounds like a Custom Robo ripoff basically. You build these toy characters and battle them against eachother. It could be fun.

[img]http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/gotchaforcegc_051103_5.jpg[/img]
[img]http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/gotchaforcegc_051103_7.jpg[/img]
[img]http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/gotchaforcegc_051103_10.jpg[/img]

[b][u]Konami[/b][/u]

Not much to say here. [b]Metal Gear: The Twin Snakes[/b] will be shown, and it's apparently playable. An image has leaked, but I'm not going to post it because it's very blurry and doesn't show the game off well. It appears to be using the MGS2 engine from what my friend and I can tell. It should be playable at E3 based on show floor photos I've seen.

Konami will also be showing their new GBA Castlevania game... [b]Lament of Innocence[/b]. I personally don't know much about it at this point. I've not even seen artwork. Pretty quick considering Aria of Sorrow just hit the US.

According to other things I've read Miyamoto has also confirmed that Hideo Kojima is working on another exclusive GC game. I have no idea what it is... but it could be that "father/son" game he talked about before.

I'm sure that sunlight sensitive GBA game called [b]Boktai[/b] will be shown as well. It was recently given a US logo, so I assume it's coming here. It's basically about vampires from what I've seen... and to kill them, you need to bring them into the sunlight (that is actually shining in real life on the GBA cartridge).

[b][u]Nintendo[/b][/u]

The last company I'm going to bother posting about today... No one is really sure of their full line up. IGNCube posted an article weeks back saying Nintendo would show video of [b]Metroid Prime 2[/b]. I have no idea if that's true. However, I do know that [b]Metroid: Zero Mission[/b] for GBA will be there for sure (as Clowmet said in the other thread). There is even a big display for it.

Many sites also said a new [b]Pilotwings[/b] was in the works. Factor 5 would be doing it, and Nintendo publishing of course. However, it sounds as if it will not be shown at E3... assuming it's even true. There's always a possibility though.

[b]Mario 128[/b] is also said to be premiering at E3. According to something I read at IGN, Miyamoto himself has confirmed this. Mario 128 is referred to as the real sequel to Mario 64 (I guess SMS was an offshoot), and according to things IGNCube has said in it's mailbag in the past... should be very impressive. He also says the name will change, thankfully lol.

There's also various Zelda rumors, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Capcom was confirmed to be making a new GBA Zelda using the Four Swords style, but I doubt it will be shown here. There's also the rumor of another GC Zelda being shown... but that's something I don't believe at all.

Donkey Kong Country for GBA will also be shown and I'm sure various other games I can't even think of at this point (some of which are named in Clowmet's thread). I'm personally hoping to see Mother 1+2, and whatever they are doing with Mother 3. The latest Fire Emblem game is supposedly being brought over for GBA as well, with plans to make a GC game if all goes well.

Pikmin 2, F-Zero GX, Mario Kart: Double Dash, Custom Robo GC, Mario Party 5, Mario Tennis, Mario Golf, Pokemon Coliseum and Pokemon Channel with Pikachu (whatever that is...) as well. I'm not so sure about the Mario Party game, but it sounds likely. There's also ANOTHER Star Fox game on Nintendo's list, and it's apparently [i]not[/i] Star Fox Armada... not bad heh.

Nintendo will also be showing a Pacman game. I am not sure if it's just a demo or something they plan on showing... but it's made for GC to GBA connectivity ideas. Basically Player One would play using the TV, and he'd be Pacman. The other players would play using their GBAs, and they'd each control a ghost. On the GBAs you can see the entire maze (just like the old standard Pacman), but on the TV the player can only see a small section because it uses an isometric 3D viewpoint. If that makes no sense, I apologize... but it sounds like the best use of GBA to GC connections yet I'd say.

----------

Anyway, there are tons of other games to be shown... I won't bother mentioning them here. E3 should be great though, considering all the stuff on Nintendo systems alone that's worth getting. Nice to own all the systems I'd imagine heh.

Edit - The Sonic pics won't show up for some reason... despite shots from that site working here no problem for some other games. I'll repost them when another site has them.

Also bolded stuff so it's easier to just skim through.

[Senor Ding Dong]

Zoonami has some "GAme Zero" planned, not to mention that a new Zelda may be shown, along with FF:Chrystal Chronicles, Sword of Mana, and FFtactics will be shown, also. Nintendo wil be sure to own everybody else, at E3.

[Schrat]

wow, impresive sem...can't wait for this thurs...thats when e3 is right?

[Turkey]

Damn...This will certainly be a busy year at the Nintendo booth. I still remember spending those days getting online every hour to check all the new info. I don't feel like commenting on the games right now, but I'm interested on most of them (by most, I meant all).

PS- Does Konami hire robots or something? They haven't got a break with the GBA games since Circle of the Moon.

[ThePikasElbow]

Here is Nintendo's E3 list (excluding surprises):

Pokemon Channel With Pikachu (GCN, 7/18)
Pokemon Coliseum (GCN, Fall)
Mario Golf (GCN, September)
Mario Kart (GCN, this year)
Mario Party 5 (GCN, this year)
Pikmin 2 (GCN, this year)
Wario World GC (GCN, this year)
Custom Robo GC (GCN, this year)
Star Fox (GCN, release TBA)
Super Mario Advance 4 (GBA, 7/18)
Pokemon Pinball Ruby & Sapphire (GBA, Summer)
Legend of Starfee 2 (GBA, September)
Mario & Luigi RPG (GBA, this year)

Now for random pictures, courtesy of IGN.com, the best gaming website ever:

[IMG]http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/viewtifuljoe_051203_18.jpg[/IMG]
Ooo, english screen!
[IMG]http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/megamantrans_051203_5.jpg[/IMG]
MegaMan Transmissions
[IMG]http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/gotchaforcegc_051103_4.jpg[/IMG]
More Gotcha Force, sounds fun.

That's all for now. E3 offically starts on May 14th, so the really big news starts then. For now, it's just the small fries.

[Semjaza]

IGN mostly stinks heh. Gamespot is owning them in coverage this year, and all the smaller fan sites make IGN not worth going to for me.

I think most of the biggest news will be today at Nintendo's conference. They have quite a bit to show though, so I'm sure some will spill onto the floor days.

First... Super Mario Advance 4 is Super Mario Bros. 3.... Sort of. If you look at the link at the end of my post, it looks like a remix of the game. In fact, in one of the screens Mario is wearing a cape like in Super Mario World.

Like I said earlier, Nintendo is also doing a new Star Fox game (Starfox Armada from Nacmo is something else - from what I hear, but don't know for sure just yet). Graphically, it's not impressive at all. In fact, it looks like a redo of Sin and Punishment (which never came out in the US) with Starfox characters. The only problem is that it looks like it should be on N64. Sin and Punishment is supposedly amazing though, so this could be a lot of fun.

There are scans of those and some other Nintendo games (Custom Robo, Mario and Luigi RPG, Starfi 2, Mother 1+2, Pokemon, etc) at [url]http://www.gamesarefun.com/cgi-bin/newspro/fullnews.cgi?newsid1052838773,13578,[/url]. I'm not posting them because they would throw off the page size lol. Custom Robo looks kickass though.

[Semjaza]

James, we can't see those without a login. It asks for passwords when the page is loaded.

[James]

[color=#808080]Okay. I think what I might do is just host all of these images myself. But that means that there'll be a delay in showing them to you. V_V

Oh well. I'll work something out when I get home. ^_^[/color]

[Semjaza]

I've been reading about the conference... and really it's a let down. Not because they didn't show games that were rumored (which stinks), but mostly because what they did show was mostly so eh.

I'm sorry, but I can't be interested in Pokemon Channel. Starfox 2 looks like an N64 game, but it could be fun (thankfully it's apparently NOT Armada, so that could make up for it). It looks far better in motion at least.

Geist looks decent, but hardly that impressive (and it's being done by N-Space, who previously did the horrible Danger Girl and Mary-Kate and Ashley games). The most exciting of those was that Pacman game, which even isn't that special other than its neat GBA to GC connection ideas.

Mario Kart: Double Dash of course looks great. Pikmin 2 should be fun. Twin Snakes should be awesome... And then there was some of Metroid Prime 2 shown as well, but I've not gotten to see it yet.

I expect there to me more once the show begins, but traditionally Nintendo doesn't announce much more after their conference. There's a possibilty of Silicon Knight's new game, more from Factor 5 in Pilotwings (which I hear won't be shown anyway), Game Zero, Mario 128 and so on... but I'm not expecting any of it. Mario 128 is supposed to hit Japan THIS year too, and it wasn't even shown. I don't get that.

At least there are some 3rd party games to pick up some of the slack. RE4's new movies look amazing... Remake and Zero have almost nothing on it, and this game is fully realtime 3D.

On the other hand, some of the GBA stuff looks great. Although I'm not too into the ideas for the new Zelda game. They'll have something to worry about next year when the PSP comes out though.

Twin Snakes pics at [url]http://www.gamers.com/game/1364029/media[/url] Can't link their pics, don't work... so check the link. Looks a step up from MGS2, but not as nice as MGS3.

RE4 movies:
[url]http://cubemovies.ign.com/cube/video/noaconf_051303_re4x2.mov[/url]
[url]http://cubemovies.ign.com/cube/video/noaconf_051303_re4x1.mov[/url]

And lastly... Whoever wrote that thing about Castlevania that I posted was wrong. Lament of Innocence is actually the subtitle of the PS2 version. Apparently another GBA game is on the way though.

[James]

[color=#808080]I'll post game stuff here now. I just deleted my old post.

The new Zelda games look [i]awesome[/i]. Have you seen them in motion? Do you know how they work? I think they're going to be a lot of fun!

I think people get way too hyped up about these conferences. There was a significant amount of [i]good[/i] games to be shown; we're not always going to get a big Zelda/Mario-style announcement.

I feel that these games are going to be a lot more anticipated as more is reported on them.

Anyway, I'll put some stuff on my own site and link to it from here. I'll cover as much as I can given the limited time frame.[/color]

[b]Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles | Square Enix | GCN[/b]

[img]http://www.shineget.com/E3/finalfantasyccbox.gif[/img]

[b]Game Summary[/b]

In a world ravaged by plague, the people depend on a blessed crystal. In order for this crystal to maintain its sparkle and power, Mirula Droplets are constantly needed. These crystallized drops can only be found in the deepest, darkest caverns of a far-off dungeon. Every year, the Crystal Caravan must collect the precious Mirula Droplets, burdened with the fate of the villagers. This year, however, players and up to three friends must take the caravan that makes the vital excursion to save the villagers lives. As a long and perilous trek is taken through a wilderness overrun by monsters, players will fight through this epic role-playing game with the story and graphic quality fans have come to expect from the Final Fantasy series.

[b]Features[/b]

Discover multiplayer connectivity! Up to four players can play simultaneously, working cooperatively to solve puzzles and defeat enemies on their quest, using their Game Boy Advance systems to control their character data and view character information. Some clues may only be available to certain players, and they?ll have to communicate and cooperate to share the information they receive on their personal game screens!
[list]
[*]Line up four players side-by-side to communicate with one another as you move through dungeons and defeat enemies together.

[*]Developed by The Game Designers Studio/Square Enix Co., Ltd.
[/list]

[img]http://www.shineget.com/E3/ffcc1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.shineget.com/E3/ffcc2.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.shineget.com/E3/ffcc3.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.shineget.com/E3/ffcc4.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.shineget.com/E3/ffcc5.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.shineget.com/E3/ffcc6.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.shineget.com/E3/ffccart1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.shineget.com/E3/ffccart2.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.shineget.com/E3/ffccart3.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.shineget.com/E3/ffccart4.jpg[/img]

[color=#808080]Phew. This is taking me a while. lol

Hm...*rubs chin*...what if I just posted [i]art[/i] and not screenshots? If you guys need shots, you can just visit [url]www.planetgamecube.com[/url] or [url]www.n-sider.com[/url]

You will get watermarks, but at least you'll see the images. I'll just post art up here, because many sites only use the art in their imagery and don't post raw art for users. And I think, rather than posting [i]all[/i] art up here, I'll just ask you guys what you want.

If there's a game you want some art from (Mario Kart, Tetra's Trackers, Pokemon Channel, Star Fox 2, etc etc) just post here and I'll do my best to provide it.[/color]

[Semjaza]

I've seen the Zelda games... I was actually surprised because they aren't what I expected. The Four Swords game sounds really cool, and what I saw of it looked really intense. The Tetra Tracker game sounds rather odd though...

FF:CC looks really, really good in motion. Some of the last batches of screenshots were disappointing, but it has some great animation, effects and music. You really need to see the boat they ride on going through the water with a really nice reflection.

The Twin Snakes video is also quite nice. Basically looks like MGS in the MGS2 engine with some improvments. The voices seem to be totally redone, but they used the same actors (other than Ninja, who sounds a LOT different). Should be a good game I hope. I really liked the first MGS, and I'm also hoping MGS3 turns out too.

And lastly RE4... You need to see one of those videos. It seems like a real change of pace from the last few. For one, it actually looks scary, unlike the last few.

It seems to rely a lot more on lighting and shadows... and a lot of really weird imagery. I get a feeling it's taking some cues from Silent Hill, which has been kicking it's butt in the horror game department lately.

Leon seems to be able to switch between two planes... the normal world and another (which makes the screen a shade of blue). The last trailer makes it seem like he got possessed which might explain that. In the blue areas there seem to be ghosts and all sorts of other things.

Graphically, it's amazing. I'd say almost on par with the remakes -- except it's all 3D and in real time. There's a scene where Leon passes a mirror and it's all reflected perfectly... no trick where it's a lower resolution or a picture like in Metroid Prime. Definately the best graphics on the GC, beating out RS3.