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Gaming with Gil - Ep. 5
Video gaming news from Bakotopialand's resident expert!


By Gamestor Gil, Bakotopia.com contributor

By the time you’ve finished reading this article, the annual E3 video game conference will have come and gone without you or me there.

E3 used to be the highlight of the summer for video game fans. Two years ago, the “Big 3” (Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo) decided they were not getting their investment worth by attending E3. It would cost them millions of dollars to showcase their up and coming hot releases for the year. So the rulers of the video game world and their developers pushed the conference organizers - Entertainment Software Association (ESA) to make it an “invitation only” event.

In years past just about anyone with a business license could attend. Once you were inside, you were free to “demo” upcoming releases before they hit the shelves - it was cool! I recently e-mailed the ESA and tried to discuss this issue with them. They wrote me back, basically stating that “unless you were invited by ‘X’ companies you cannot attend.” Bah humbug! Needless to say … I didn’t attend, but I sure tried.

Let’s get back to real business. Here are some upcoming releases:

What’s out now!
• Final Fantasy IV (DS) makes its way to Nintendo DS and features full 3D graphics, voiced cut scenes, and added content.
• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (PS2, WII, DS) is an action-adventure game based on the movie of the same name.
• Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns (DS) - featuring more dungeons, items, and enemies.

Week of July 27
• Release date July 28: MLB Power Pros 2008 (WII, PS2).
• Release date July 29: Soulcalibur IV (PS3, X360) Great game - The fourth entry in the classic weapons-based fighting series comes to PS3.
• Release date July 29: Spectral Force 3 (X360) is a strategy RPG set in a land where 10 kingdoms battle for continental supremacy.

Coming up Aug. 5
• Vampire Rain: Altered Species (PS3) takes place in a suburban west coast city, and the player assumes the role of a Special Forces member named John Lloyd, a government assigned vampire hunter.
• Monster Madness: Grave Danger (PS3) is a four-player cooperative top-down shooter in which you try to stop a monster invasion using customizable weapons and vehicles.
• Little League World Series 2008: (WII, DS): Bat, pitch, and field using intuitive controls developed exclusively for Nintendo’s platforms.
• GRID: (DS) is the latest installment in the Race Driver series. It will take you around the globe to race in all kinds of competitions.

• Gamestor Gil can also be heard live Tuesday mornings on KRAB 106.1 FM with Meathead, Rocky Nash and Francis at 9 a.m.

E-mail feedback, questions and comments to: gil@gamestor.com with“Bakotopia” in the subject line.

Gamestor (East Hills Mall) - 661-871-7900

Story also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 33, 7-24-08