Genre: Action/Platform
Publisher: D3Publisher of America
Developer: Vicious Cycle
Release Date: August 21, 2007

After a promising showing at last year’s E3 event, D3Publisher of America’s Dead Head Fred seemingly vanished from the scene. Thankfully, unlike its protagonist, Dead Head Fred has not been beheaded, nor has it lost the sharp-edged humor that made it stand out in the first place. Games often pick up notable voice actors to cover their various faults, but the addition of John C. McGinley (“Scrubs”) as the voice of private investigator Fred Neuman really seems to bring gravitas to a character

Genre: Rhythm
Publisher: Electronic Arts/MTV
Developer: Harmonix
Release Date: Holiday 2007

We've seen the future of awesome, and its name is Rock Band.

Harmonix had set up shop in a small room to the far left of the converted cafeteria at Electronic Arts' Los Angeles compound, isolated from the noise and spectacle of the dozens of other titles on display. How did we know where to find our first look at the multi-instrumental explosion of collaborative rhythm? There was a line outside the door — stretched 12 or more people deep at times.

It was like going to

Genre: Racing
Publisher: Microsoft Games Studio
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Release Date: September 2007

Project Gotham Racing 3 was an undisputed hit, both from a commercial and critical standpoint, but there was a distinctive air of exclusivity behind it — almost an arrogance, if you will. By limiting the vehicle selection to those that could reach speeds of 170mph or more (i.e., cars that most of us will never own), any semblance of a learning curve was swiftly axed, as even the most basic car was difficult to control. That didn't stop the Xbox 360 launch title

Genre: Light Gun Shooter
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Namco Bandai
Release Date: November 2007

The launch of another PlayStation means the eventual launch of another GunCon peripheral, and sure enough, the blindingly colored accessory is making a comeback this fall with the release of Time Crisis 4 for the PlayStation 3. Both pieces of the Time Crisis equation were on display at a recent Namco Bandai press event, and though our time with the game and gun was limited, we came away with a few details about the next-gen light gun experience.

Time Crisis 4 initially seeped into arcades last

Trauma Center: New Blood (Wii)

Keep your hands steady and your mind focused – this time around there's a lot more on the line. Every cut of the scalpel, every pinch of the forceps, each and every second that ticks by is of the absolute greatest importance. If you think it's too much to handle alone, invite a friend to assist with the operation and work together to save patients from flat-lining. The adrenaline is pumping, lives are at stake, and only you can save the day. Have you got what it takes?

At a remote hospital in Alaska, Dr. Markus Vaughn

Genre: Fighting
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Namco Bandai
Release Date: TBA 2007

With Soul Calibur IV blazing a trail to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 next year, Namco Bandai wanted to bring the franchise to the Wii, as well, but according to Product Manager Wayne Shiu, a simple port wouldn't cut it — they wanted to take full advantage of the unique control scheme of the Wii to offer a new play experience to fans of the long-running series.

Which brings us to Soul Calibur Legends, the first entry in the franchise to focus solely on a

Genre: Action/Puzzle
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Namco Bandai
Release Date: Fall 2007

No seismic shift occurred between the original Katamari Damacy and We Love Katamari for the PlayStation 2, and the PSP iteration, Me & My Katamari, did little to disrupt the balance of simplistic gameplay and quirky storytelling established back in 2004. Beautiful Katamari for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 looks to continue this trend of complacency, expanding the role of the multiplayer game while generally maintaining the same style and feel of its predecessors.

As in previous Katamari entries, the name of the game is

Genre: Rhythm/Adventure
Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios
Developer: Avalanche Software (Wii), Gorilla Games (DS)
Release Date: October 30, 2007

So much of the press coverage of children's games is either overly snarky or noticeably brief, and the reasons for this are numerous. Some of it can be chalked up to a generational gap or a lack of knowledge or interest in the license, but I suspect that much of it comes from the sad fact that most licensed games developed for young audiences are surprisingly uninventive (check our High School Musical preview), often with disastrous results.

To my

"Atari's 2007 E3 roster showcases some of the most exciting titles from our diverse fall line-up - from the fan-favorite Dragon Ball Z series to the graphically stunning The Witcher," said David Pierce, Chief Executive Officer, Atari, Inc. "We're excited to participate in the new E3 Media & Business Summit and look forward to having media and business partners spend time with the Atari Team and our titles."

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 combines the lightning fast fighting and action from 2005's Budokai Tenkaichi 1 and 2006's sequel Budokai Tenkaichi 2. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 delivers an extreme

Genre: Rhythm
Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios
Developer: A2M
Release Date: August 2007

The wildly successful “High School Musical” made-for-TV movie seems to lend itself well to rhythm gaming, and not just because its title contains the word “music.” More notably, its original soundtrack has shifted more than four million units, making it the best selling album of 2006. With that kind of built-in market, not to mention the hugely anticipated August release of the Disney Channel sequel on the horizon, it would be foolish not to expand the license into the world of video gaming.

After seeing

Get the Switchball [X360/PC] trailer off WP (11mb)

Coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade late this summer and currently available for the PC on popular online gaming portals, Switchball challenges players to control an ever-changing ball along a narrow and challenging course suspended in midair. A polymorphous ball exhibits different physical characteristics as it changes form as either a standard Marbleball, a feather-light Airball, an electrically charged Powerball or a dense and powerful Metalball. Players will have to solve their way through challenging levels packed with tricky obstacles, traps and mazes. With beautifully rendered 3D environments including Skyworld, Iceworld,

Genre: Classics Collection
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Namco Bandai
Release Date: October 2007

The endless repackaging of decades-old classic games has been one of the least admirable developments in the modern era of gaming, and the Namco Museum series has led the charge with iterations for nearly every major system released since the original PlayStation. Luckily, Namco Bandai has sensed the series’ dwindling necessity and will be shaking things up a bit with Namco Museum Remix for the Wii.

Namco Museum Remix will pack a total of 14 games within its digital confines, but just nine of those will be pixel-perfect ports

Battlestar Galactica is an action-packed top-down space combat game set in the universe of the hugely popular sci-fi television show. Sign up to defend the Galactica, or play as the ruthless Cylons as they seek to remove the human menace from existence. Take part in enormous multiplayer space battles – up to 8 players online – or play through the single-player campaign.

Features

• Single-Player Campaign – Pilot various ships and complete memorable missions from the TV series.
• Multiplayer Game Mode – Play

Commanders: Attack! is a gripping turn-based tactical game with a combination of strategic troop placement and entertaining head-to-head warfare. Featuring a 1930’s art deco look and feel, players will use missile launchers, bombers and infantry to amputate the enemies’ defenses and conquer the land. Players can choose to challenge the computer AI in a 15-mission campaign across three different landscapes or battle against three friends either locally or online in four intense multiplayer modes - Versus, Team Play, Player vs. CPU or same-system Skirmish.

Product Features

• Players

Microsoft got to kick off the festivities of the new, slimmer, slightly more disorganized E3. While there were no bombshells, the presentation was slick and aggressive. Journalists got to see new trailers, game demos, and some new information about release dates. Microsoft seems to be repositioning for a battle with Nintendo's red-hot Wii system, now that Sony's all but taken itself out of the race. This means a sudden change of emphasis onto appealing outside of the traditional gaming audience with which Microsoft's always done well. One of the few totally new games announced at the conference, for instance, was

“1C recognizes that die hard gaming fans love classic titles and is pleased to bring two franchises back to life. We will continue our strong tradition of innovative gameplay and immersive storylines with our newest group of titles for 2007-2008,” said Nikolay Baryshnikov, International Sales Director 1C Company. “Together with Atari, we would like to introduce our games to the American audience and invigorate multiple genres with our unique take on great gaming.”

Our newest FPS is Necrovision, an intense shooter with both a combat system and a mystical spell system to help combat the realistic and fantasy enemies. Interactive elements,

Activision's Game Line-Up Includes:

Bee Movie Game (X360, Wii, PS2, PC, NDS)

Based on the upcoming DreamWorks Animation movie written, produced by and starring Jerry Seinfeld due out this fall, Bee Movie Game lets players race, chase and fly their way through an adrenaline-fueled world of adventure as they experience the hilarious antics of Barry B. Benson, a dynamic and daring bee who knows there is more to life than making honey.

( not yet rated by the ESRB).

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PS3, X360, PC)

The new action-thriller from the award-winning team at Infinity Ward delivers the most intense and cinematic action

D3Publisher of America's Game Line-Up Includes:

Dark Sector

An all-new and original action-thriller designed exclusively for next-generation consoles, Dark Sector thrusts players into the role of Hayden Tenno, an elite black-ops agent sent on a dangerous mission into a decaying Eastern European city that hides a deadly Cold War secret. Attacked by an unknown enemy, he awakens to find part of his body altered by an infection that has granted him inhuman abilities and he must learn to evolve along with his powers, to survive and to become a hero.

A dark, gritty experience packed with fast action, incredible superpowers and an engaging

Army of Two

Never go into battle alone! The deadliest two-man private military outfit a government can buy is hitting retail shelves this winter. Delivering a groundbreaking strategic 3rd person co-op shooter unparalleled in the action genre, EA Montreal's ARMY OF TWO focuses on gameplay centered around TWO man missions, TWO man strategies, TWO man tactics and a TWO man advantage. The breakthrough gameplay in ARMY OF TWO, with a live or adaptive AI partner, enables you to take advantage of two-man strategies like customizable weapons, vehicles, and tactical shooting. ARMY OF TWO is launching this winter on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer

Following is additional information on Konami's E3 2007 lineup:

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)

Release date: Fall 2007

Genre: Action

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles takes an entirely new look at the classic action game Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and brings the franchise to the PSP system for the first time - complete with 3D graphics, enhanced gameplay and new music. This is the first time Rondo of Blood has been released outside of Japan. The game also includes unlockable versions of the original Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night games, optimized for the PSP system with old-school side scrolling action.

Contra

"With video games a premier source of entertainment for an increasingly diversified audience, our fall lineup is designed to be extremely accessible to the mainstream consumer," said Ken Gold, vice president of Marketing, Majesco. "From popular licenses to our own IP, Majesco will continue to identify opportunities that offer exceptional content and value."

Included among Majesco's next-gen products is Blast Works: Build, Fuse & Destroy for the Wii. Developed by Budcat Creations and based on the popular Tumiki Fighters online game, Blast Works is a side-scrolling shooter that lets players build their own game by creating custom levels, ships and enemy

"Our 2007 E3 lineup truly reflects our product strategy to develop top quality titles in a wide range of genres across all major platforms," said David F. Zucker, president and CEO, Midway. "With exciting next generation games such as Stranglehold and proven brands like Mortal Kombat, along with games for the younger market and handhelds, this is Midway's most diverse and strongest line up yet."

Midway's E3 line up with expected ship dates include:

Stranglehold (PS3, X360, PC; August) - Experience exhilarating, next-gen action for the PS3, X360 videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC, as you continue the story of

"Our E3 2007 lineup highlights Namco Bandai Games' unparalleled commitment to delivering a collection of core franchises, licenses and original properties that will appeal to everyone," said Genichi Ito, president and CEO of Namco Bandai Games America Inc. "As our industry continues to evolve and captivate the next generation of gamers, we are prepared to meet this market change and engage those who enjoy interactive entertainment with appropriate high-quality content across all platforms and genres."

Below is additional information on Namco Bandai Games' E3 2007 lineup:

Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (Xbox 360)

Ace Combat 6 marks the debut of Namco Bandai's

NCsoft North America CEO Robert Garriott said, "NCsoft strives to deliver the highest quality online entertainment possible, and these products represent the next generation of online games. This E3 meeting will provide a window for the public to see the breadth of the variety of game genres and business models NCsoft provides, as well as show off how advanced and exciting our products are."

NCsoft products to be featured at E3 are:

Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa

Tabula Rasa has been in closed beta testing since May and is set for launch this fall. Tabula Rasa is poised to evolve the massively multiplayer online

On display at the Barker Hangar at booth #113 from July 11 - 13, the following titles will have playable kiosks: Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker, Final Fantasy II, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, Front Mission and Heroes of Mana. Featuring six playable titles, Square Enix is delivering a wealth of deep and engaging experiences for the Nintendo DS and PSP to all of this year's attendees.

E3 2007 Lineup

DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
ESRB Rating: Not Yet Rated
Release Date: November 6, 2007

DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker is the latest

2K Games' Line-up Includes:

BioShock (X360/PC)

BioShock is the "genetically enhanced" first person shooter that lets players do things never before possible in the genre - turn everything into a weapon, biologically modify your body with plasmids, hack devices and systems, upgrade weapons and craft new ammo variants, and experiment with different battle techniques.

Gamers enter the game as a cast-away in Rapture, an underwater Utopia torn apart by civil war. Caught between powerful forces and hunted down by genetically modified "splicers" and deadly security systems, players have to come to grips with a deadly, mysterious world filled with powerful technology and fascinating

Microsoft Game Studios unveiled plans to bring 2006 big seller Gears of War and Rare's Viva Piñata to Windows XP and Vista this year as Games for Windows-branded titles with LIVE support.

"Windows gaming is set to see one of its best years ever," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. "With an incredible range of phenomenal titles, amazing hardware and the rapid adoption of Windows Vista, Windows gamers will remember holiday 2007 as a landmark year for PC gaming."

Microsoft's Games for Windows initiative is in full swing and

Krome Studios announced that they are working with Microsoft Game Studios to deliver Viva Piñata: Party Animals, bringing gamers and garden connoisseurs together for a fun social party game set in a whimsical world bursting with living piñatas of every shape and shade imaginable.

Only now, the breezy fields of Piñata Island deliver a whole new set of challenges. With Viva Piñata: Party Animals, players will take part in the most popular reality TV show on the island and compete in over 40 outrageous multiplayer party games. Starring an ensemble cast, including Hudson Horstachio, Paulie Preztail, Franklin Fizzlybear and Fergy Fudgehog,