E3 2002: The Xbox Prequel

Written by Ryan Smotherman on May 20, 2002

E3 2002: The Xbox Prequel: After their dismal showing at last year's show, Microsoft is back and looking to kick a little ass.

At the time of this writing, E3 (the Electronics Entertainment Exposition) is a mere one-week away. This annual event, which is time and time again the most successful gaming related showcase year end and year out, is where anybody who is anyone in the gaming industry gathers to check out the latest in the videogame world. Most importantly though, it's where all the game developers come out swinging with their latest works in progress. And guess what? We get to play them! Well, technically no one at the good ole Target plus an X will be playing them, as we aren't able to attend this year's showcase due to various reasons. However, we are still dedicated to bringing you latest news and a full run down of how the Xbox fares at the show, with our E3 coverage starting with this preview.

Gamers expect two things to accompany an E3 Ц the unveiling of the latest games of course, and the absolutely huge groundbreaking announcements. And at times a combination of both of these happens. For example, if Halo 2 was unveiled at the show, that'd qualify as a top-notch combo. So what big Xbox announcements should we expect to see at this year's E3? Up until recently everyone was expecting an announcement regarding a huge Xbox price drop. But of course with the most recent revelations you should already know that both Sony and Microsoft recently announced price cuts for their respective systems, from $299.99 to $199.99 (exciting news indeed). With the price reduction already out of the way, expect Microsoft to focus this year's E3 on their online plans, namely Ц Xbox Live.

That's right. Look forward to hear every minute detail concerning Microsoft's Xbox Live network to be revealed at the show. Including the official price scheme of the service (rumored to be $49 a year), the exact launch date of the network, all the network's features, what games will be supporting it, and exactly how the Xbox Voice Communicator will fit into the mix. By the time E3 is over you should be completely and utterly psyched about the Xbox's online components. And now that all 3 of the major platforms are sitting pretty at $199.99 [Ed: Gamecube dropped to $149.99 after this writing], expect Microsoft to rub in the fact that the system is equipped with a built in hard drive and network card, something you have to pay extra for with the other two systems (and the hard drive is something the Gamecube doesn't even offer). Additionally, don't be surprised if Microsoft has other huge announcements up their sleeves. Like maybe something regarding the buyout of a certain company? You know that Bill, he's sneaky, and very, very rich. If anything, E3 is a good indicator of the year to come, and by the looks of things Microsoft's Xbox is looking to make quite an impact. Which is very good news for us Xbox devotees.

As for the games you'll see, prepare yourself, they are being developed out the wazoo for the Xbox, from every company imaginable. Proving that the gaming world has embraced the console and are making great things happen with it. At this point it is not yet known which titles will be playable at the show, but you can check out the full list below.

Xbox Games Scheduled to Make an Appereance

Acclaim
Aggressive Inline
All-Star Baseball 2003
Dave Mirra BMX 3
Turok Evolution
Vexx

Activision
Blade II
Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer
Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2
Minority Report
Race of Champions
Shaun Murray's Pro Wakeboarder
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
X-Men: The Next Dimension
X-Men: Wolverine's Revenge

Capcom
Steel Battalion

Codemasters
Colin McRae Rally 3
Mike Tyson Heavy Weight Boxing
Prisoner of War
Pro Race Driver

Crave
Mace Griffin: Bounty Hunter

Dreamcatcher Interactive
Fuel

Electronic Arts (EA)
2002 FIFA World Cup
Battlefield 1942
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
James Bond 007: NightFire
Madden 2003
NASCAR Thunder 2003
NBA Live 2003
NCAA Football 2003
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
NHL 2003

Kemco
Batman: Dark Tomorrow

Infogrames
Battle Engine Aquila
Dungeons and Dragons: Heroes
Furious Karting
Loons
Risk
RX
Splashdown
Superman: The Man of Steel
Taz: Wanted
Terminator: Dawn of Fate
Transworld Snowboarding
Unreal Championship

Interplay
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Galleon
Hunter: The Reckoning

LucasArts
Gladius
Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Majesco
BloodRayne
David Beckham Soccer
Gun Metal
Totaled!

Metro 3D
Armada 2: Star Command
Shayde: Monsters Vs. Humans

Microids
Tennis Masters Series 2002

Microsoft
Brute Force
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
Kakuto Chojin
Kung Fu Chaos
MechAssault
Midtown Madness 3
NBA Inside Drive 2003
NFL Fever 2003
Project Ego
Quantum Redshift
Shenmue II
Sneakers
Whacked!

Midway
Dr. Muto
Freaky Flyers
MLB Slugfest 2003
Mortal Kombat: Dark Alliance
NFL Blitz 2003
RedCard Soccer 2003

Namco
Dead to Rights
Namco Museum
Pacman World 2
Soul Calibur 2 (Arcade)

Phantagram
Duality
King Under Fire: Crusaders
Phantom Crash
Strident

Sega
Craxy Taxi 3: High Roller
NBA 2K3
NCAA Football 2K3
NFL 2K3
NHL 2K3
Panzer Dragoon Orta
Phantasy Star Online
Sega GT 2002
Toejam & Earl 3: All Funked Up
World Series Baseball

Simon & Schuster
Outlaw Golf
Seablade

TDK
Mercedez Benz
Robotech: Battlecry

THQ
Alter Echo
Moto GP
MX Superfly
Virtua Tennis
Yager

Ubi Soft
Dragon's Lair 3D
Ghost Recon
Splinter Cell
XIII

Potentially, it's going to be quite an impressive showing for the Xbox indeed. With Microsoft themselves sporting the most remarkable line-up, followed by the strongest Xbox 3rd party supporter, Sega. Don't forget that a few companies might even have some surprises in store for us. Like the aforementioned Halo 2, which I might add is very doubtful. Will we at last see Grand Theft Auto 3? Or maybe even an exclusive deal to get Grand Theft Auto 4? Will Capcom finally unveil Dino Crisis 3 (announced at last year's E3)? We might even see Tecmo's current Dead or Alive related project or even the long awaited update to Ninja Gaiden. And the names Shenmue III and Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance is floating around there somewhere. Nonetheless, even if few surprises are in store for, game wise it's going to be one heck of a show.

Final Thoughts
Microsoft's entry in the console gaming world has been full of trials and tribulations, but has for the most part been quite successful when you consider the circumstances. With the recent price drop and a strong showing at E3, the Xbox should prove itself to be a must own system that offers much more that it's competitors (built in hard drive and network card anyone?). This year Microsoft's focus will definitely be on the Xbox's online plans, something Xbox owners have been very curious about for a long time coming. But what it all comes down to is the games, and just by looking at that massive list above, the Xbox has must own titles in spades. Who but can't wait to get their hands on exclusives like Project Ego, Brute Force, and Panzer Dragoon Orta? All which are games that are sure to make a huge splash at the show. Anyhow, by the time you read this the festivities should have already started, so be sure to catch all the latest breaking news from Xbox Target, as well as a full run down of how the Xbox does at the show. This is what gaming is all about!