E3's Hidden Surprises

Call it fate or just poor marketing--the biggest surprises at last week's Electronic Entertainment Expo didn't register one single blip on mass media radar before the gathering began.

And, ironically, some of its brightest stars weren't even exhibited on the show floor.

Sony's newly announced PSP, a mobile handheld gaming platform targeted for release at year-end 2004, was easily the convention's darling, causing a stir with its purported 3D graphics, 4.5-inch backlit screen, USB 2.0 interface, memory stick compatibility and 1.8GB capacity proprietary universal media disc format. But the device's presence was limited to passing conversation and a single press release; no preproduction units were on hand for demonstration.

Likewise, Atari made a splash with its announcement of massively multiplayer role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons Online for the PC, another no-show. While UbiSoft did hold viewings of The Matrix Online--the expected vehicle through which the Wachowskis will continue the franchise after The Matrix Revolutions airs--it was only in exclusively private, closed-door meetings.

Also shocking was the immediate presence of the DISCover, a console system that actually plays high-end PC games. Basic units, sporting a Pentium III 2Ghz layout with 40GB hard drive, are set to debut in September for roughly $299 and were fully playable to passersby. The only problem: The unit was tucked away in a tiny booth at the back of the L.A. Convention Center's Kentia Hall, so few knew a stroll so far out was worth their time, let alone that such a device actually existed.

The same goes for Majesco's surprisingly adept, but somehow all-but-invisible-to-attendees Game Boy Advance Video Pak, which allows for 30 minutes of smooth footage playback on the popular portable console.

Regardless, if hardware announcements whet audiences' appetite for destruction, it was the multitude of interactive entertainment titles unveiled--an estimated 1,350--that blew the doors off the venue. Unsurprisingly, this year, more than ever, Hollywood got its due. Observe the following promising silver screen spinoffs and like-minded original properties, headed your way soon:

Alias (Acclaim, GC/PC/PS2/Xbox): CIA agent Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) gets physical in a spunky action-adventure. The Movies (Activision, PC): A crash course in studio management and movie production from famed designer Peter Molyneux. Spider-Man 2 (Activision, GC/PS2/Xbox): Spidey's back, swinging between rooftops and braining the bad guys. Shrek 2: The Game (Activision, GC/PS2/Xbox): Big, green and stinky whoops it up in a giant-sized adventure. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Infogrames, GC/PS2/Xbox): As far as Schwarzenegger's concerned, "he'll be back" in an action-heavy outing. Pirates of the Caribbean (Bethesda Softworks, PC/Xbox): Sail the seven seas in this novel role-player--but don't count on Johnny Depp walking the plank. Resident Evil: Outbreak (Capcom, PlayStation 2): Survival horror goes online with pleasantly gruesome results. American Idol (Codemasters, PC/PS2): Just don't ask what Simon thinks of the product, a rhythm game based on the popular TV series. Mix TV Presents: Eminem (Conspiracy, PC/PS2): Complete puzzles while Slim Shady spits verses on video in the background. James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (Electronic Arts, GC/PS2/Xbox): More girls, more guns and (hopefully) more gameplay than the last one. The Italian Job (Eidos, GC/PS2/Xbox): Race for safe haven after pulling the heist of a lifetime. Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup (Electronic Arts, PS2/Xbox): EA Sports--it's in the cape and wand. The Great Escape (Gotham Games, PC/PS2/Xbox): Avoid the Germans and sneak your way to safety. MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch (Gotham Games, GC/PC/PS/PS2/Xbox): Because we're dying to put the hurt on Carrot Top, Ron Jeremy and 'N Sync. Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike (LucasArts, GameCube): Multiple play styles and blistering graphics give this action game stellar appeal. Buffy the Vampire Slayer 2: Chaos Bleeds (Sierra, GC/PS2/Xbox): Beat 'em, burn 'em, stake 'em and lay those pesky vampires out for the morning sun. The Lord of the Rings: The Treason of Isengard (Vivendi Universal, PS2/Xbox): Hack 'n' slash combat in the realm of Middle Earth. Star Trek: Shattered Universe (TDK Mediactive, PS2/Xbox): An action game set in an alternate universe--set phasers to fun. Charlie's Angels (UbiSoft, GC/PS2): Girls gone wild...on an evil mastermind and his henchmen. The Fast and the Furious (Vivendi Universal, PS2/Xbox): Upgrade and race exotic hardbodies as you pursue a mission-driven storyline.