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Last Updated: June 24, 2001 . . . . Finished on: July 7, 2001
E3 2001 NEWS!
Well, E3 has finally come and gone. And boy was it one of the greatest shows ever!
For the first time we got to see playable GameCube and Xbox games! And who ruled the show? You guessed it - NINTENDO!
Nintendo made a HUGE splash with it's GameCube console with tons of awesome games! No one expected Nintendo, and especially Rare, to show as many games as they did. And most were playable.
Nintendo also had a lot to show for the Game Boy Advance. Even Rare turned up quite a bit of GBA games.
The only thing really lacking from Nintendo was a lot of third party support. Well, they had some (Sega even announced 11 games!), but not as much as Sony or Microsoft. A lot of games though (Including probably most of the third party NGC support) won't be announced until SpaceWorld, in August.
But, what was shown at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2001 (E3) was very good. And proved once again that Nintendo is a force to be reckoned with, and shouldn't be underestimated.
Many publications (Such as EGM) gave GameCube 'Game of Show' honors.
So this was definately one of the (If not the) best E3 shows ever.
But I can't help to be even more excited about the upcoming SpaceWorld show. Where Nintendo is supposed to show the new Mario and Zelda GameCube games! As well as more third party games (Including Resident Evil Zero!). So I'm getting really excited about that. And it's in only TWO MONTHS!!
Also, after E3, Nintendo announced the official release date and pricing for GameCube. NGC will be released in the US on November 15 at the MSRP of $199.99!! That's three days before Xbox at $100 dollars less!
It will also launch with six 1st-party launch games. But up to around 16-20 games total. Once you add in games by other third-parties.
All in all, the Nintendo GameCube is going to be a very tough system to beat. Better watch out Sony and Microsoft!
Also, check out my new GameCube section for info on GameCube. The system, peripherals, and mostly, the games! Check it out for info on all the games shown at E3. Click here to go there now.
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Last Updated: May 15, 2001
E3 IS THE DAY AFTER TOMARROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And tomarrow look forward to some pre-E3 news!!!!
Nintendo fans, rejoice and be HAPPY!!
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Last Updated: May 4, 2001
Just a little bit of news for you, taken from IGN.com. Check this out!!
IDSA Report: Games Have Major Economic Impact
The new report, commissioned by the IDSA, looks at the impact of gaming to the U.S. economy.
May 1, 2001
In 2000, the computer and video game industry created 220,000 jobs and nearly $9 billion in wages and federal and state tax.
That's according to a new report issued by the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), released today. The report, titled "Economic Impacts of the Demand for Computer and Video Games," also found that the industry generated an additional $10.5 billion in economic activity from the sale of computer and console software, and some game-related hardware.
"This new study clearly dramatizes the growing importance of the video game industry in America's high tech sector," said Douglas Lowenstein, President of the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), which commissioned the study by Nathan Associates Inc. "With the introduction of new advanced game machines, surging demand for video game software, and an expanding base of dedicated and casual game players, it's clear that the industry will be a major force in the American economy for years to come."
The detailed study of U.S. Government census and other economic data shows that sales in the game software industry in the year 2000 grew at a rate of 14.9 percent per year, more than double the rate of growth of the U.S. economy as a whole and far outpacing sales growth in related industries.
Moreover, growth in employment, and wages in the computer and video game industry between 1995 and 2000 far outpaced growth in other major U.S. industries. For example, wages generated by the computer and video game industry showed an annual growth rate of 17.4 percent, and employment generated by the industry grew at 10.1 percent per year.
By comparison, motion picture production, distribution and allied services sectors, widely considered to be the king of America's entertainment industries, have recognized growth in annual wages of 9.2 percent and employment of 5.2 percent during the same period. Equally striking, the video game industry job and wage growth rates outstripped those of such high tech stalwarts as the computer manufacturing industry, consumer electronics and computer storage industries.
Check this out as well.
Games Industry Reports Growth
According to a trade organization, computer and video games now represent a $10.5 billion industry.
May 1, 2001
According to a state-of-the-industry report from the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), game sales have grown 15 percent a year since 1997, and have now surpassed $10 billion.
The games industry also created 219,000 jobs and paid out $7.2 billion in wages in 2000, according to the report. The industry's total value was based on game publishing, transportation, wholesale and retail sales, and other related areas.
Some say that soon, games could surpass movies as the big U.S. money-maker. By comparison, in 2000, domestic movie ticket sales were about $7.7 billion, while retail sales of computer and video game hardware and software totaled about $7.8 billion.
"The lines will cross soon if the growth projections that we see are true," said Doug Lowenstein, president of the software association. "This industry is going to be growing at 50 to 75 percent over the next four or five years."
Heh, heh, heh.
Looks like video games are doing VERY, VERY, VERY, well. Man! Can you belive it!? Video games are getting to be just as big (If not bigger) than movies!! Jeez, I never thought this day would come. When video games are so big they're outselling movies. And taking just as much money to make. Looks like video games are very much so here to stay, forever!! This passing year especially will be huge for video games!! We've already had the launch of the Dreamcast and Playstation 2. And the Game Boy Advance just launched in Japan, selling over 500,000 units in it's first day!!!!! And each time one of these systems launched, they were the best selling system ever, and broke all the previous records. When the Dreamcast came out, it was the best selling system in history, breaking the Nintendo 64's record. Then the Playstation 2 launched, and broke the Dreamcast's record, becoming the best selling system in history. And then, when the Game Boy Advance launched in Japan, it even outsold the Playstation 2!!
Notice a trend here? Every system launch since the launch of the Dreamcast has outsold the previous system on launch day. What makes you think the upcoming systems will be any different? We still have to go through the US launch of the Game Boy Advance, and the launch of both the Nintendo GameCube and Microsoft Xbox. I bet that the GameCube will be the best selling system for a very, very, very, long time!! At least, until Playstation 3 rolls around, which shouldn't be for another 5-7 years or so.
But just look at it!!!! Look how far video games have gone. From the launches of the NES, SNES, Genesis. To the Sony Playstation, Sega Saturn, and Nintendo 64 (Not to mention Game Boy Color). Now, to the Dreamcast, Playstation 2, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, and Xbox!!!!
How can it possibly get any better? Four system launches (5 counting GBA) in the space of about 3 years?! It's amazing. No wonder video games are outselling movies. I can't wait until the next system wars!!
Dreamcast vs. Playstation 2
GameCube vs. Xbox
Game Boy Advance sits on the side lines and racks in money for Nintendo.
Trust me folks. Video games ain't goin' no where.They are definately here to stay.
LONG LIVE VIDEO GAMES!!
THE BEST SOURCE OF DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT!!
LOL
Oh, and on a kinda un-related but sorta related side-note (Phew!! Run on sentance!!), Super Smash Bros. 2 is supposed to be at E3 in a big (HUGE) way. Most likely even playable. Can you say, Matrix II "killer" (Ok, so maybe I can't go that far. But you gotta admit it's gonna sell like mega, super, ultra, freakin' crazy!!!! Just imagine, graphics more detailed than Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore, in a Nintendo game!! We're going to freak when we see it!! Or, at least pee our pants or something, lol.)
JUST YOU WATCH!!
NINTENDO'S GOING TO RULE SUPREME AT E3!!!!
(In just under two weeks!! Are we smilin' yet? :-)
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Last Updated: April 29, 2001
Yesss!!!!!!!!!!! E3 (the Electronic Entertainment Expo) is almost here!!!!!!!!! It's less than a month away! E3 is where we will finally get to see actual GameCube games. Some will be on video, and some will be playable. But we'll finally get to see what actual GameCube games will look and play like. And get to see what games are coming out for it. For some weird reason though, both Konami and Capcom said they aren't going to show anything at the show. But hopefully they'll change their minds, since they're both making games for the system.
Also, Sega said that they are planning to fully support GameCube!!!! Yesss!!!!!!! Can you say Sonic Adventure 2? Heh, heh, cool.
Other than E3, there isn't really any good news. But believe me that there will be once E3 rolls around. I'll probably update around then too. C-ya in a month.