E3 2001: Boxes, Cubes and Booth Babes

E3--as it's known to joystick jocks--is the top trade show for the gaming industry, where manufacturers pull out all stops to show off their upcoming titles.

Despite flashy appearances, this year's show is shaping up to be a war zone. Publishing giants Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony will be out in force, trumpeting their Xbox, GameCube and PlayStation 2 console systems, respectively.

Of particular interest is Microsoft's Xbox. Whether Bill Gates and company's initial bid for a slice of the lucrative living room-based video game market will succeed is anyone's guess, but one thing is certain: With billions hanging in the balance, Redmond's finest will be under the strictest scrutiny this side of an antitrust hearing. At deuling pregame press conferences, Microsoft and Nintendo tried to one-up each other: Microsoft announced it would launch Xbox in North America on November 8 at a price of $299; Nintendo, while not committing on a price, said its GameCube we be out in the U.S. on November 5.

Also expected to make a strong showing is Nintendo's Game Boy Advance, a full-blown successor to the best-selling console/handheld unit in existence. Slated for release on June 11, first- and third-party products for the fast, colorful machine will have a prolific presence during exhibition hours. Movie buffs can bank on motion picture inspired titles such as Shrek, Jurassic Park III, Surivor, X-Men and dozens more products featuring key licensed properties. Dedicated gamers will be just as titillated by such offerings as Super Mario Advance, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 and Rayman.

Given the circumstances, money shouldn't be an object for Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony. Each plans a major evening event in addition to outlandish daily expenditures for floor space and attention-grabbing diversions. Expect everything from gyrating booth babes to wannabe actors stuck inside giant rubber animal suits. Only a newly reconfigured Sega, which recently announced it would exit the hardware market and instead focus on software across multiple platforms, is playing it low-key.

Game titles generating pre-show buzz include a mix of old favorites and freshly branded content. With the film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within slated for a summer release, anticipation for Final Fantasy X (Square's latest role-playing magnum opus for PS2) is reaching fever pitch. Strong showings are also likely for Metal Gear Solid 2 (Konami, PS2), Harry Potter Online (Electronic Arts, PC), Twisted Metal Black (Sony, PS2), Halo (Microsoft, PC/Xbox), Munch's Oddyssee (Microsoft, Xbox), Warcraft III (Blizzard, PC) and Duke Nukem Forever (G.o.D Games, PC).

Gamers and industry types will also be looking to see how publishers address Internet-related issues. Much ado was made last year over plans for broadband, modem and cable rollouts, though the last 12 months have seen scant few online services go live save Sega's fledgling SegaNet provider. One of the themes of E3 will be how the rapidly changing economic climate has impacted hardware and software manufacturers regarding their online efforts.

That the next few days are going to be filled with revelations goes without saying--it's merely a question of when such tidbits will be revealed. E3 can't roll into town and not cause a stir. Geeks, gamers and sightseers alike have literally thousands of surprises ahead. Everyone else can just look on in amusement and grudgingly wait for their chance behind the controller.