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PlayStation has a huge Gran Turismo 4 setup with multiple cockpits for ongoing races. When the game is released in December, it is rumored to have over 2,000 cars in the virtual garage and 200 tracks on the map. Some people are going to spend a lot of time playing this game at home or against others online when they could be driving their real cars on real streets. |
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In the tradition of DDR and Samba de Amigo, Eye Toy is a new and innovative way for video game players to look stupid. Using a customized Web cam, your torso is placed onscreen--kind of like on a Neoprint machine. Your task is to swat at enemies that attack your face. It's pretty funny for a second, but it's going to take more complex gameplay for it to be worth buying. The massive Nokia section has samples of their N-Gage mobile game device. The graham cracker-sized unit is also a telphone, radio, MP3 player, organizer, and mobile Internet connection at once, but the gaming is the thrust of this exhibit. There will be 10 games ready at launch in December, including Tomb Raider and Sonic, but I like the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater software. Using a directional pad and the numeric keys, it feels and looks surprisingly good on the tiny screen. Neversoft's Tony Hawk Underground is way different than the first four installments of Pro Skater franchise. Instead of rolling in skate parks and schools, you buy your first skateboard, learn tricks, steal cars, make videos, and basically do whatever it takes to go pro, get shoe sponsorships, and become a hero to kids everywhere. The game wasn't available to preview, but I like the idea of having dumb caveman tricks mixed in with kickflip-to-indy or whatnot. People were wearing T.H.U.G. shirts everywhere even though the game won't come out until the fall. Other big games are Enter the Matrix, Spider-Man 2, and Mario Cart 4, but I'll probably try those at Target or Best Buy where I can play at my leisure. Rockstar Games' Warriors adaptation and a Sony handheld gaming device are also being promoted but aren't being shown, and will probably be previewed at next year's show. |