TeAM YYePG

RADAR E3 2005 POST-MORTEM
AUTO ASSAULT
PUBLISHER: NCsoft DEVELOPER: NetDevil
RELEASE DATE: August 2005
What We Said: “Hopefully, you won’t need a
mechanic to figure everything out.”
What We Saw: We have every reason to believe
that Auto Assault will be just as amazing
as…pretty much everything else NCsoft has published.
As for the number-heavy item statistics
we’re so concerned about, developer NetDevil
assures us it’s all being taken care of.
IMPERATOR
PUBLISHER: Mythic Entertainment DEVELOPER:
Mythic Entertainment RELEASE DATE: 2006
What We Said: “[Imperator] could be a serious
contender once it’s finished.”
What We Saw: This game is looking way better
now that it’s getting further along. Mythic is setting
up a really solid tactical environment here,
with the goal of making you feel like you’re in the
middle of a war. If it ends up being the easy-topick-up
experience it’s touted as, we’re psyched.
E3 SURPRISES 5 MORE TO WATCH
ALAN WAKE
PUBLISHER: TBA DEVELOPER: Remedy
RELEASE DATE: TBA
The guys behind Max Payne are cooking up
a new psychological thriller titled Alan
Wake, in which you portray a horror novelist
whose best-selling, nightmare-influenced
books have come to life. We saw little more
than a tech demo—but given Remedy’s
track record, we’re excited.
BROTHERS IN
ARMS: EARNED
IN BLOOD
PUBLISHER: Ubisoft DEVELOPER: Gearbox
RELEASE DATE: Q3 2005
Earned in Blood may seem rushed, but
we’re assured that it has been in development
for a while. Gearbox has taken a
note from its first professional game, Half-
Life: Opposing Force: You’ll play through
the timeline of the original Brothers in
Arms from another soldier’s perspective,
briefly intersecting with some of the missions
you ran through in that game.
40 > COMPUTER GAMING WORLD
THE MOVIES
PUBLISHER: Activision DEVELOPER: Lionhead
RELEASE DATE: 2005
What We Said: “We aren’t completely sold on
the ‘make your own movie’ premise.”
What We Saw: Make movies, save them as AVI
files, and share them on the Internet. It’s actually
genius. Sure, we’ll give the Sims-esque sandbox
mode a whirl, but look out Tarantino—that screenplay
in our closet is about to get green-lighted.
Uh, if the game would come out already.
FABLE: THE
LOST CHAPTERS
PUBLISHER: Microsoft DEVELOPER: Lionhead
RELEASE DATE: Q4 2005
What We Said: “The Lost Chapters is a tantalizing
treat.”
What We Saw: No, it won’t change your mind
or fulfill the ambition of the original Xbox version,
but it will satisfy hungry action-RPG fans. Playing
with a mouse brings a new approach to fighting,
and a good deal of new content helps to flesh out
the story significantly.
ENEMY TERRITORY:
QUAKE WARS
PUBLISHER: Activision DEVELOPER: Splash
Damage RELEASE DATE: TBA
Unlike the original, freely downloadable
Enemy Territory, Quake Wars is a fully featured
retail product. Deathmatch junkies
will feel right at home in this online tactical
shooter, which takes place in continuity
just before Quake II. We’ve got some
big scoops on this one coming down the
road—stay tuned.
INDIGO PROPHECY
PUBLISHER: Atari DEVELOPER: Quantic Dream
RELEASE DATE: September 2005
Indigo who? The game formerly known as
Fahrenheit is coming to the United States,
and it’s the most promising adventure game
we’ve seen in a while. The game’s big push
is to really make you feel as though you’re
part of an interactive cinematic experience;
it blends action with adventure, and the
story progression changes depending on
your actions.
BLACK & WHITE 2
PUBLISHER: EA DEVELOPER: Lionhead
RELEASE DATE: 2005
What We Said: “Black & White 2 needs to be a
whole lot better than the original.”
What We Saw: Thankfully, it looks like Black &
White 2 will indeed be a whole lot better. The
game has retained the charm and central premise
of the original while fleshing out the actual
“game” part of the game. With the tedium gone,
better creature A.I., and improved combat, Black
& White 2 is moving up our must-play list.
Enemy Territory:
Quake Wars
Huxley
HUXLEY
PUBLISHER: Webzen DEVELOPER: Webzen
RELEASE DATE: Q3 2006
Webzen’s Huxley looks like a promising—
and gritty—postapocalyptic urban-warfare
game in which your actions actually impact
the world. Everything that you succeed at
not only benefits you (new weaponry, stat
and skill improvement), but becomes an
online version of Pay It Forward—minus the
bad acting.
>> Sega declares Total War! Having acquired The Creative Assembly, Sega will now be publishing all Total War games and expansions. /