By John Burrell Jr.

This is the game I anticipate more than any other yearly title. It’s my “Madden.” I keep up to date by reading any and everything that I can get my hands on looking for what is new and what stayed the same in this title. So after I saw the THQ booth and got my autographs from Good Ol’ J.R.  and Jerry “The King” Lawler ( I don’t care what King Booker says you‘re still the king), I began my hands on time with SVR 2008.  The demos for Xbox 360 and PS3 had limited characters and match types to choose from, whilst the Wii version had what I believe was the full game. First off I began with the Xbox 360 version of the title. The game continues to shine in the visuals department and the controls, though changed slightly, remain tight. The new fighting styles seem to manipulate the way you fight the matches by allowing certain hot spot moves and abilities to be used during the match. I used Jeff Hardy with a hardcore fighting style. I was able to knock a guy on the ground and instead of the normal ground chair strike I was able to do a leg drop the opponent with the chair under my legs. These type of things are exclusive to the hardcore fighting style. The buttons have been slightly remapped also. In order to run you have to hold the left shoulder button and use the left analog stick. The diving out of the ring is also simplified by simply running at the ropes and pressing out toward the opponent and the X button. The Ultimate Grapples can now be countered by striking the opponent you’re held by three times. The grapple system is also changed dramatically. You now have to pull back on the analog stick to apply pressure or to attempt a hold break. The stamina meter also seems to be gone and you can tell by animations that your wrestler is tired. 

The Wii version is an entirely different monster within itself. It takes a much more patient person to learn the way to do everything correctly in the game. Instead most people I watched play it continuously wiggled the controller to do things. This was before I realized they were using the nunchuk to modify grabs, punches, and kick out of pins. The Wii also features the ability to execute taunts by waving the controller and nunchuk in different fashions. If you want to do a DX crotch chop you move the controllers accordingly.

I didn’t play the handheld versions of the game because I didn’t have time but if they’re anything like the SVR on PSP the last couple of years this will be no difference in the quality if it‘s not better. I really liked the new game play mechanics added to this years’ edition of SVR but I’m still shaky on whether I like the Wii version or not. Nonetheless you can always count on THQ to deliver a quality game especially with the new TNA Impact game on it’s heels.

by Angie Quidim

It was about seven in the evening and TME was attending a reception for the Sprint mobile gaming network in room 404B.  The usual networking and drinking carried on for the next several minutes then the lights  went off.  The room was pitch black and we heard a loud thud.  After a few seconds, the emergency lights kicked in and we saw that the loud noise was nothing more than the doors slamming shut.  We collected our things and got a hold the Wii mote flashlights provided by Nintendo and set off into the dimly lit hallway.  It was quite a scene from a really bad survival horror game where a bunch of gaming journalists set out to find an exit to the cavernous structure of the convention center.

The convention center is definitely different arena when it is dark.  We headed to the South hall Lobby to see what had happened.  In South Hall everything west of the Nintendo display was perfectly fine.  Everything east of the Nintendo booth was pitch black.  We moved on to the second floor and took the long hallway to the West hall.   Everything was dimly lit by the emergency lights and our Wii motes.  It was too quitet, and there were random sounds as we walked down the halls.

We finally made our way to the outside near the West Hall Lobby.  The room paled in comparison when you compare it to when the old E3 was around.  But we were more concerned in getting out and going to our next adventure.  We were gonna to attend Video Games Live.  The first video game concert in the new Nokia Theatre.

By Angie Quidim

Mimoco is company known for Mimobots and its unique style of USB flashdrives. They are currently exhibiting at E for All with their newest product release. The Halo 3 Master Chief USB Flashdrives are available for a discounted price of $39.95 for 1 GB in red, blue and green. This show special was announced at the show for those gamers who want to have something different in their technical arsenal. They also have at the show the first release of Star Wars Flash Drives which include a storm trooper, Darth Vader, R2D2, and more, There is a raffle that allows gamers to win one of the Halo 3 sets if you sign up.

You can find more details about this great product at www.mimobot.com

It is the first day at the brand new e for all expo and going into the halls of the staples center is very reminiscent of the old E3 format When you reach the main doors of south hall a small spectacle unfolds

As you walk in the doors you are greeted by the two familiar sites Nintendo’s large bright white booth featuring Super Mario Galaxies and Smash Brothers Brawl and Konami with their hottest upcoming release MGS4. Rock band was out for demo as well as people attempting to singing along with Guitar Hero II Civilizaton for console and handheld was on display. The hall is not as populated but definitely everywhere you go there is something to see and play. Target had a main pavilion featuring demos of Guitar Hero III. There is even a large gamer lounge for gamers to sit and play Halo3. I am still perusing the floor but I am sure there will be much more to see in the days to come.

First Days Swag Grab

Namcos’s lollipops and vending machines

Guitar picks and stickers from Guitar Hero III

Computer bag and T shirt from Power Up games

Collector Pac Man classic postcards from Namco

T shirt from Nintendo for playing Super Smash Brothers Brawl

T shirt from Game Quest for registering

Free stickers from Mimobots

 

 

 

Design Winner Receive a Trip to the Inaugural E for All Expo,

$2,000, and Other Prizes

 New video game event E for All (www.eforallexpo.com) is teaming up with Threadless.com’s “Loves Threadless” tshirt design competition to challenge gamers and others to design a tshirt inspired by E for All’s theme, “Power Up & Play.”  E for All and Threadless.com challenge individuals to express what “Power Up & Play” means to them in the world of video games and creatively articulate the theme as a tshirt design.One lucky person who wins the E for All “Loves Threadless” tshirt design competition will travel with a friend to the inaugural E for All Expo – North America’s premiere consumer event dedicated to all things video games and interactive entertainment — and receive a great prize package including a $400 airfare gift card, lodging, a Nintendo Wii, and $2,000. To enter a design and vote visit http://www.threadless.com/loves/eforall.

E For All Replaces Previously-announced Orlando stop, providing access to the popular competitive gaming circuit for thousands of additional gamers

Framingham, MA, and New York City – May 14, 2007 — IDG World Expo and the World Series of Video Games Presented by Intel (WSVG), today announced that “Entertainment for All™ Expo” (E for All) will be the last and biggest U.S. event for the competitive circuit this season, before it heads to Europe for the final two events.  With more than $90,000 in cash prizes, the E for All edition of the WSVG circuit will feature four arenas of competitive game play on multiple titles, including the world’s most popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Blizzard Entertainment^®’s “World of Warcraft^®: The Burning Crusade.^™” Rounding out the competition are Activision’s “Guitar Hero II™,” “EA SPORTS™ Fight Night Round 3,” and Activision’s “Call of Duty 2.”  Coverage will be available online and as a one-hour televised special in November.  E for All will take over the Los Angeles Convention Center, October 18-21, 2007, in downtown Los Angeles.    The 2007 World Series of Video Games, Presented by Intel, has already vaulted to unprecedented heights after a four-day event in China last week that drew more than 90,000 attendees and awarded $50,000 in cash prizes to the winners.  The event moves to the US this summer for events in Louisville and Dallas.  E for All replaces Orlando as the last and largest US stop on this year’s WSVG circuit.   In addition to tournaments, E for All attendees will be first to try the newest, hottest computer and video games in advance of their release for the holidays. Other offerings include social and professional networking opportunities, game stages, the acclaimed Video Games Live concert and much more. Created by the team that produced E3 for the last decade, E for All connects all segments of the booming video game market – consumers, publishers, industry luminaries, media and retail.“From the moment it was announced, we recognized that E for All is going to become the most important gaming event of the year,” said Matthew Ringel, president and commissioner of the WSVG.  “We knew we had to move our Universal Orlando event to be a part of this.  E for All and the World Series of Video Games share a common goal of introducing video game competition to a wide and mainstream audience.”“By featuring the WSVG at E for All, we’re able to offer fans a direct connection to the energy and excitement of game play at the competitive level,” said Mary Dolaher, CEO, IDG World Expo.  “We’re delighted to work with WSVG to offer the biggest US circuit stop for thousands of people who have a passion for games.”Upcoming World Series Schedule of Events:

 Studies from IDG Entertainment and IDC to provide new insight into
  evolving face of gamers and tomorrow’s video game retail landscape

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.–Aug. 14, 2007–IDG World Expo today announced
that two new studies from IDG Entertainment (IDGE) and research firm
IDC profiling today’s gamers and the future of the video game market
will be presented at Entertainment for All(TM) Expo (E for All(TM))
(www.eforallexpo.com), to be held October 18-21 at the Los Angeles
Convention Center. The research findings, which will be shared
in-depth with video game retailers and provided to the media in
top-line form, will reveal new insights into gamers’ tastes and
purchasing behaviors, as well as the evolution of the video game
market.

    IDG Entertainment has spent 18 years studying game buyers to
better understand what gamers have in common and how they differ.
Through careful psychographic analysis, IDGE has divided gamers into
five distinct segments and will share its findings about this
ever-growing and evolving population.

    “Today’s gamers have increasingly diverse needs and expectations,”
said Simon Tonner, Marketing Director, IDG Entertainment.
“Understanding gamers is more complex and more critical than ever for
anyone involved with the interactive entertainment industry. This
research will provide brand new data and a depth of methodology that
make it truly unique. E for All Expo will be the center of the game
universe in October, making it the perfect place to release this
research.”

    IDC Research will complement the IDGE psychographic gaming study
with results from its latest study, Worldwide Connected Console
2007-2011, which provides key data on the console gaming market and
how it will impact video game sales opportunities for retailers,
publishers, and console manufacturers. Special analysis presented at E
for All will focus on the impact downloadable content and episodic
games will have on the video game market and what retailers and others
need to do to prepare for these advancements.

    “IDC will present the most comprehensive research that forecasts
revenue derived only from online consoles,” said Billy Pidgeon,
program manager of consumer markets, gaming for IDC. ” It is more
critical than ever that those in the industry are prepared and are
taking advantage of the changes in gaming technology and distribution,
and these studies provide important insight in that regard.”

    IDGE and IDC will present their in-depth findings on Friday,
October 19 during an informal, round table-style discussion and Q&A
with retail buyers. Top-line data will be released to the media
immediately afterward. Sample questions IDGE and IDC will answer
include:

    –  Who is buying the Wii(TM) console and how are they changing
        the face of the market?

    –  What are the top three things gamers are looking for in their
        next game?

    –  Which gamers are embracing the Xbox 360(TM) or PlayStation(R)3
        as the center of their digital household?

    “E for All Expo is all about gamers, and this new research will
provide an unprecedented level of understanding about this important
market segment,” said Mary Dolaher, CEO of IDG World Expo. “With an
increased level of interest in games and the rapid pace at which new
game technology is being created, we are thrilled to work with IDGE
and IDC to provide this important new element of E for All.”

    About E for All(TM) (www.EforAllExpo.com)

    Produced by IDG World Expo, Entertainment for All(TM) Expo (E for
All(TM)) is North America’s premiere video game event. A celebration
of video games and the people who play them, the event will bring
together the entire game community, from consumers and media to
publishers, developers and retailers. The Expo will feature exhibits
from leading interactive entertainment companies that will allow
consumers to try and buy the newest and hottest video games and
gadgets. Other event highlights include the World Series of Video
Games (WSVG) competitive gaming tournament, the acclaimed Video Games
Live(TM) concert, celebrity appearances, the Game Developers
Conference (GDC) Game Careers Seminar, and “Into the Pixel,” an
exhibition of video game art. E for All will be held October 18-21,
2007, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. For more information,
please visit www.eforallexpo.com.

 FRAMINGHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 29, 2007–IDG World Expo
today announced that Nintendo of America has signed on as an anchor
exhibitor for IDG World Expo’s newest event: Entertainment for All(TM)
Expo (E for All(TM)), scheduled for October 18-21, 2007, at the Los
Angeles Convention Center. Nintendo leads an A-list of game companies
signing on for a show that is rapidly shaping up to be the premiere
event in interactive entertainment.

    Entertainment for All Expo (E for All) is a new event created for
people who are passionate about video games and everything related.
The Expo was launched in response to strong demand within the consumer
audience for an opportunity to see and try new products before they
reach store shelves. Event organizers anticipate its mid-October dates
will launch an early and successful holiday shopping season for the
industry.

    “The E for All Expo supports Nintendo’s mission to reach as many
types of consumers as possible to expand the world of video games to
new audiences,” says George Harrison, Nintendo of America’s senior
vice president of marketing and corporate communications. “Our Wii and
Nintendo DS systems are all about gaming for the masses, and the E for
All Expo will give consumers a chance to try out the hottest new
Nintendo video games.”

    “Nintendo’s early involvement in E for All demonstrates the
importance of a broad consumer-focused event for this industry,” says
Mary Dolaher, executive vice president of IDG World Expo. “E for All
has been shaped from the ground up with all gamers in mind, and
Nintendo has proven its commitment to embracing the spectrum of
gamers, as we’ve seen with their launch of the Wii. In addition to
being our flagship exhibitor, Nintendo of America Executive Vice
President of Operations Don James has agreed to serve on our Exhibitor
Advisory Board. I couldn’t ask for a more universally respected
colleague in this new venture.”

    E for All Expo will offer consumers the opportunity to test-drive
the latest in games and gadgetry, as well as purchase products they
enjoyed over the course of the 4-day event at on-site retail
facilities. Additional attractions are in the works, including
high-profile videogame tournaments; job fair/networking opportunities;
and the acclaimed Video Games Live concert. In addition to the Expo at
the Los Angeles Convention Center, the event will take advantage of
soon-to-be-expanded LA Live/NOKIA Theatre area directly adjacent.

    E for All Expo has been endorsed by the Entertainment Software
Association (ESA), the U.S. association exclusively dedicated to
serving the business and public affairs needs of companies that
publish video and computer games for video game consoles, personal
computers, and the Internet. ESA members collectively account for more
than 90 percent of the $7 billion in entertainment software sold in
the U.S. in 2005, and billions more in export sales of U.S.-made
entertainment software.

E for All Offers Unique Opportunity for Those Interested in

Breaking Into the Video Game Industry 

Framingham, Mass. – August 9, 2007 – IDG World Expo today announced that its newest event, Entertainment for All™ Expo (E for All™) will feature the Game Developers Conference (GDC) Game Career Seminar, known as the leading career development event and frequently runs alongside some of the industry’s most prominent game-related events.  E for All is the premiere North American-based video game expo — a new event created for people who are passionate about video games and everything related.  The new expo will dominate downtown LA on October 18-21, 2007, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. “GDC’s Game Career Seminar adds a unique professional and skill development dynamic to E for All – now attendees can not only play games at E for All, they can learn how to make them, too,” said Mary Dolaher, CEO of IDG World Expo.  “Whether you’re serious about getting into game development or have always wanted to know how it works, the GDC Game Career Seminar at E for All provides the tools, counseling and networking opportunities you need.” E for All attendees participating in the Game Career Seminar will network with industry professionals, meet with HR executives from leading game companies, and most importantly, gain the skills and insights to jumpstart their careers.  The two-day seminar showcases a GDC-quality speaker lineup including top game developers and industry experts willing to share their perspectives and insights.  “One of our essential goals is to provide students and professionals with a direct career path into, or advancement within, game development,” said Jamil Moledina, Executive Director of the Game Developers Conference.  “By partnering with E for All, we expect to offer GDC-caliber learning and career development to the largest concentration of game enthusiasts in North America – and thereby inspire and empower the next generation of game creators.” Day one of the Game Career Seminar, Friday, October 19, will focus on individuals looking to break into the business. Video game fans can learn what it takes to go from video game player to developer.  Day two, Saturday, October 20, will focus on career advancement for those already working in the video game industry.  Top-level game developers will be on-hand to share their experience and expertise.  Opportunities to network with top video game companies will be available.   Find out more about the seminar series at http://www.gamecareerseminar.com. Information about additional E for All seminars and features will be announced in the coming weeks.  For more about E for All, please visit www.EforAllExpo.com. 

OVERVIEW

Entertainment for All Expo (E for AllTM) is a brand-new event created especially for people who are passionate about video games, interactive entertainment and related products. E for All 2007 will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from October 18 – 21.

E for All offers consumers unprecedented access to the video game industry through opportunities to see, try and buy the world’s leading video game products before they are available on store shelves. In addition to game-play, show attendees will enjoy a variety video game lifestyle offerings, including: video game tournaments, the Into the Pixel video game art exhibition, a Gamer Lounge and the acclaimed Video Games Live concert.

E for All aims to empower all aspects of the market, bringing consumers, publishers, developers, innovators, and retailers together to experience a multi-faceted event true to the spirit of interactive entertainment.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

E for All is accessible for anyone passionate about video games and interactive entertainment, including: consumers (children 13 and under require parental supervision), media, software developers, buyers and retailers, programmers, distributors, entertainment industry representatives, financiers and venture capitalists,importers and exporters, manufacturers, resellers, researchers, educators, financial and industry analysts.

TICKETS AND PRICING

General Admission tickets go on sale at www.EforAllExpo.com beginning in June, 2007.

• Advance registration

o Thursday/Friday = $45

o Saturday/Sunday = $65

o 4-day Pass = $90

• On-site registration

o Thursday/Friday = $50

o Saturday/Sunday = $75

o 4-day Pass = $110

OWNERSHIP AND OPERATION

E for All is owned and operated by IDG World Expo (www.idgworldexpo.com), the company responsible for producing tradeshows, conferences and events for professionals seeking world-class education, peer-to-peer networking and one-stop comparison shopping. IDG World Expo’s portfolio of conferences and events includes Entertainment for All™ (E for AllTM), Macworld Conference & Expo®, LinuxWorld Conference & Expo®,

LinuxWorld® OpenSolutions Summit™, Next Generation Data Center™ (NGDC™), and SaaScon™. IDG World Expo is a business unit of IDG, the world’s leading technology media, research and event company.